Whitehouse, Scott Introduce Bipartisan QUAHOGS Act to Investigate Declining Shellfish Populations

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tim Scott (R-SC) today introduced bipartisan legislation to study why quahogs - also known as hard shell clams - and other native shellfish populations are in decline along the east coast of the United States. The Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish (QUAHOGS) Act would create a research task force comprised of federal agency representatives, fishery management councils, state agency representatives, industry leaders, scientists, and other stakeholders to better understand what is fueling the shellfish population decreases.

"Quahogging in Narragansett Bay is a quintessential Rhode Island trade whose harvest brings us the Ocean State summer staples of clear chowder and stuffies. Unfortunately, quahog and other shellfish landings are in steady decline across the Eastern Seaboard, and it's been difficult for shell fisherman and researchers to pinpoint exactly why," said Senator Whitehouse, co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus. "My bipartisan bill with Senator Scott would assemble a federal researchtask force to investigate why certain shellfish populations are declining and help protect a pillar of Rhode Island's Blue Economy."

"South Carolina's shellfish industry depends on healthy bivalve populations, and this task force will support the research needed to develop science-based solutions that protect both our natural resources and the livelihoods they sustain," said Senator Scott. "From commercial fishermen to restaurant workers and the tourismindustry, this directly affects the families and communities that depend on them. I'm pleased to co-sponsor this bill to study the declining bivalve populations and develop informed solutions to safeguard our state's coastal economy and heritage."

East coast shellfish populations and commercial shellfish landings have mysteriously declined for years. The Northern quahog, Rhode Island's state clam and an iconic part of the Ocean State'sculture and economy, has been declining since the 1980s, despite not being overfished. There have also been notable declines in oyster, scallop, and soft-shell clam populations up and down the east coast. Shellfishermen and scientists have speculated that ocean acidification, nitrogen reductions, seagrass meadow decline, and plunging phytoplankton production have all contributed to the declining bivalve populations. Without a well-founded explanation, states and industry have struggled to develop action plans to recover these important shellfish.

The East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force would be composed of between 16 and 21 members, with the Secretary of commerce appointing a chair from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Atlantic States Fishery Management Councils. The Secretary would also appoint representatives from State fish and wildlife management agencies, bivalve fishing industry representatives, academic experts, and at least one Tribal representative. The Task Force's resulting research report would synthesize the current knowledge on bivalve decline, forecast future research, and highlight the financial and regulatory barriers hurting shellfish aquaculture.

"Hard clams used to be one of the top fisheries in Southern New England, and the decline in population has been drastic in several states. It was only a few decadesago that Rhode Island exported millions of dollars of clams to Europe," said Bob Rheault, Executive Director of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association. "In order to rectify the decline it is of paramount importance to determine the cause so we can take appropriate steps to recover the population and this important fishery. The QUAHOGS Act will allow scientists to properly study the situation so resource managers know what to do to try and fix it."

"The QUAHOGS Act supports the science needed to keep East Coast shellfisheries strong in the face of changing ocean conditions - an essential step in protectingour ecosystems, economy and cultural heritage," said Matt Griffin, Rhode Island Representative of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association.

"As a shellfish farmer and business owner in South Carolina, I am in full support of the Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish Act. It is critical to our sustainability to collect research on various seed to further lessen the risk of mortality events," said Trey McMillan, Vice President of the South Carolina Shellfish Growers Association.

The text of the bill is available here.