| R 284 |
| 2022 -- S 2933 Enacted 05/10/2022 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MAY 15 THROUGH MAY 21, 2022, TO BE "RHODE ISLAND QUAHOG WEEK" |
Introduced By: Senators Euer, and Sosnowski |
| Date Introduced: May 10, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island proudly supports its burgeoning food industry; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's fishing and seafood sector is a key component of the Rhode |
| Island food industry; and |
| Whereas, A recent study by the University of Rhode Island finds that the total economic |
| impact of Rhode Island's fisheries and seafood sector is nearly 4,400 jobs and $540 million |
| annually; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island quahog fishery plays a particularly important role in the |
| history, culture, and economy of the State; and |
| WHEREAS, The quahog is the most economically important marine resource harvested |
| from Narragansett Bay; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island quahog fishery produces a steady supply of fresh product |
| to the market throughout the year, thanks to a well-managed, sustainable resource and the grit and |
| determination of the hard-working harvesters; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2021, over 14.3 million quahogs with an ex-vessel value exceeding $4 |
| million were harvested from Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island coastal waters; and |
| WHEREAS. Rhode Island's commercial quahog fishery is characterized by over 500 |
| independent owner/operators who typically work alone on small boats and often in harsh |
| conditions; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's seafood retailers, namely markets and restaurants, provide |
| fresh Rhode Island quahogs to local consumers, enriching palates and bolstering our local food |
| economy; and |
| WHEREAS, Water quality improvements in Narragansett Bay have led to the opening of |
| 1,908 acres of new shellfishing waters in the lower Providence River, providing a significant |
| growth opportunity for the fishery; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative was established by the |
| Rhode Island General Assembly in 2011 for the purpose of promoting and advancing the interests |
| of Rhode Island's seafood industry; and |
| WHEREAS, A key outgrowth of the Collaborative has been "Quahog Week," an annual |
| statewide celebration that highlights the importance and appeal of Rhode Island’s iconic clam; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, "Quahog Week" has proven successful in increasing consumer awareness |
| and demand and associated sales and market opportunities for Rhode Island quahogs; and |
| WHEREAS, The 6th annual "Quahog Week" takes place in 2022 during the week of May |
| 15-21; and |
| WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2022" features a large number of restaurants and markets |
| throughout the State offering quahog-based specials on their menus and in their display cases, all |
| highlighted on the SeafoodRI.com website; and |
| WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2022" also features two special events, one at Whaler's |
| Brewing Company in Wakefield on May 17 and the other at Narragansett Brewery in Providence |
| on May 19, both free and open to the public, with details provided on the SeafoodRI.com |
| website; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May 15-21, |
| 2022, to be "Rhode Island Quahog Week" and congratulates the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing |
| Collaborative, the Rhode Island Shellfishermen's Association, and the many partners who have |
| joined together to make Quahog Week 2022 a premier statewide event; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate furthermore encourages all Rhode Islanders to support |
| Rhode Island’s local quahog and seafood industry by participating in Quahog Week and enjoying |
| fresh RI quahogs throughout the year; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Terrence Gray, Acting Director, Rhode |
| Island Department of Environmental Management. |
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| LC005880 |
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