2026 -- H 8210

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LC003352

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $2,300,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT

OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) TO TRANSPLANT QUAHOGS INTO

NARRAGANSETT BAY AND ESTABLISH A SHELLFISH HATCHERY PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representative Joseph J. Solomon

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, For decades, the quahog fishery has been in decline, with yearly harvests

significantly lower year after year due in part to climate change and reduced nutrients from

wastewater treatment plants; and

     WHEREAS, Recently, Rhode Island shell fishermen have been moving tens of thousands

of pounds of quahogs from polluted waters to the cleaner waters of Greenwich Bay in order to

reverse the decline in Rhode Island’s shellfish harvests and boost future harvests through revenue

collected by DEM from environmental violations; and

     WHEREAS, The relocation helps the clams to flush out any contaminants and be healthy

for harvesting in the months to come and to spawn and spread larvae that will help repopulate

Narragansett Bay; and

     WHEREAS, Funding the project to replenish quahog populations and support the

struggling quahog fishery falls under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental

Management; however, funding for this essential project is extremely limited and is currently

scheduled as a voluntary effort, and not expected to draw many participants; and

     WHEREAS, An allocation of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to the DEM is

necessary to help save the iconic hard-shelled clam from Narragansett Bay and its environs; and

     WHEREAS, Two million dollars ($2,000,000) of the appropriation to the DEM would be

used to establish a long-term shellfish hatchery program that would be administered by a

nonprofit entity chosen by the DEM, and would only be utilized for the public benefit of the wild

shellfish industry; and

     WHEREAS, The hatchery would have a production capacity of five (5) hundred million

(500,000,000) pieces annually; and

     WHEREAS, On or before September 1, 2026, and every five years thereafter, the DEM

would produce specifications to receive bids from nonprofits to conduct the proposed operation

of programs to fulfill these requirements; and

     WHEREAS, The DEM would supervise the program and promulgate rules and

regulations related to the operation of the hatchery program; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of two million three hundred

thousand dollars ($2,300,000) to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management,

three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the transplantation of quahogs into Narragansett

Bay, and two million dollars ($2,000,000) of which would be to establish a shellfish hatchery

program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the

general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time

required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $2,300,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT

OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) TO TRANSPLANT QUAHOGS INTO

NARRAGANSETT BAY AND ESTABLISH A SHELLFISH HATCHERY PROGRAM

***

     This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $2,300,000 to the

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the transplantation of quahogs and

the establishment of a shellfish hatchery program.

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