| R 262 |
| 2023 -- H 6315 Enacted 04/25/2023 |
| 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 |
| 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, In 2021, over 17.5 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, 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, Rhode Island's seafood retailers 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 initiative 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, The 7th annual "Quahog Week" takes place in 2023 during the week of |
| April 23 through April 29; and |
| WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2023" 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 SeafoodRl.com website; and |
| WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2023" also features two special events, one at The Guild in |
| Warren on April 26 and the other at Narragansett Brewery in Providence on April 27, both free |
| and open to the public, with details provided on the SeafoodRl.com website; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| commemorates April 23-29, 2023, as "Quahog Week 2023" 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 2023 a premier statewide event; and be |
| it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House hereby 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 duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing |
| Collaborative, and the Rhode Island Shellfishermen's Association. |
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| LC002804 |
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