2023 -- H 6315
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LC002804
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING APRIL 23RD-29TH AS "QUAHOG WEEK 2023" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Phillips,
Place, McEntee, Solomon, Casimiro, and McNamara
Date Introduced: April 25, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, Rhode Island proudly supports its burgeoning food industry; and 1
WHEREAS, Rhode Island's fishing and seafood sector is a key component of the Rhode 2
Island food industry; and 3
WHEREAS, A recent study by the University of Rhode Island finds that the total 4
economic impact of Rhode Island's fisheries and seafood sector is nearly 4,400 jobs and $540 5
million annually; and 6
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island quahog fishery plays a particularly important role in the 7
history, culture, and economy of the State; and 8
WHEREAS, In 2021, over 17.5 million quahogs with an ex-vessel value exceeding $4 9
million were harvested from Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island coastal waters; and 10
WHEREAS, Rhode Island's commercial quahog fishery is characterized by over 500 11
independent owner/operators who typically work alone on small boats and often in harsh 12
conditions; and 13
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island quahog fishery produces a steady supply of fresh product 14
to the market throughout the year, thanks to a well-managed, sustainable resource and the grit and 15
determination of the hard-working harvesters; and 16
WHEREAS, Rhode Island's seafood retailers provide fresh Rhode Island quahogs to local 17
consumers, enriching palates and bolstering our local food economy; and 18
WHEREAS, Water quality improvements in Narragansett Bay have led to the opening of 19
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1,908 acres of new shellfishing waters in the lower Providence River, providing a significant 1
growth opportunity for the fishery; and 2
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative was established by the 3
Rhode Island General Assembly in 2011, for the purpose of promoting and advancing the 4
interests of Rhode Island's seafood industry; and 5
WHEREAS, A key initiative of the Collaborative has been "Quahog Week," an annual 6
statewide celebration that highlights the importance and appeal of Rhode Island's iconic clam; 7
and 8
WHEREAS, The 7th annual "Quahog Week" takes place in 2023 during the week of 9
April 23 through April 29; and 10
WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2023" features a large number of restaurants and markets 11
throughout the State offering quahog-based specials on their menus and in their display cases, all 12
highlighted on the SeafoodRl.com website; and 13
WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2023" also features two special events, one at The Guild in 14
Warren on April 26 and the other at Narragansett Brewery in Providence on April 27, both free 15
and open to the public, with details provided on the SeafoodRl.com website; now, therefore be it 16
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 17
commemorates April 23-29, 2023, as "Quahog Week 2023" and congratulates the Rhode Island 18
Seafood Marketing Collaborative, the Rhode Island Shellfishermen's Association, and the many 19
partners who have joined together to make Quahog Week 2023 a premier statewide event; and be 20
it further 21
RESOLVED, That this House hereby encourages all Rhode Islanders to support Rhode 22
Island's local quahog and seafood industry by participating in Quahog Week and enjoying fresh 23
RI quahogs throughout the year; and be it further 24
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 25
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing 26
Collaborative, and the Rhode Island Shellfishermen's Association. 27
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LC002804
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