JOINT RESOLUTION 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 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.)

H8210

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
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WHEREAS, For decades, the quahog fishery has been in decline, with yearly harvests
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significantly lower year after year due in part to climate change and reduced nutrients from
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wastewater treatment plants; and
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WHEREAS, Recently, Rhode Island shell fishermen have been moving tens of thousands
5
of pounds of quahogs from polluted waters to the cleaner waters of Greenwich Bay in order to
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reverse the decline in Rhode Island’s shellfish harvests and boost future harvests through revenue
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collected by DEM from environmental violations; and
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WHEREAS, The relocation helps the clams to flush out any contaminants and be healthy
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for harvesting in the months to come and to spawn and spread larvae that will help repopulate
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Narragansett Bay; and
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WHEREAS, Funding the project to replenish quahog populations and support the
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struggling quahog fishery falls under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental
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Management; however, funding for this essential project is extremely limited and is currently
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scheduled as a voluntary effort, and not expected to draw many participants; and
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WHEREAS, An allocation of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to the DEM is
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necessary to help save the iconic hard-shelled clam from Narragansett Bay and its environs; and
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WHEREAS, Two million dollars ($2,000,000) of the appropriation to the DEM would be
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used to establish a long-term shellfish hatchery program that would be administered by a
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nonprofit entity chosen by the DEM, and would only be utilized for the public benefit of the wild

1
shellfish industry; and
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WHEREAS, The hatchery would have a production capacity of five (5) hundred million
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(500,000,000) pieces annually; and
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WHEREAS, On or before September 1, 2026, and every five years thereafter, the DEM
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would produce specifications to receive bids from nonprofits to conduct the proposed operation
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of programs to fulfill these requirements; and
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WHEREAS, The DEM would supervise the program and promulgate rules and
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regulations related to the operation of the hatchery program; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of two million three hundred
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thousand dollars ($2,300,000) to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management,
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three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the transplantation of quahogs into Narragansett
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Bay, and two million dollars ($2,000,000) of which would be to establish a shellfish hatchery
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program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the
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general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time
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required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
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LC003352
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LC003352 - Page 2 of 3
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
***
1
This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $2,300,000 to the
2
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the transplantation of quahogs and
3
the establishment of a shellfish hatchery program.
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LC003352 - Page 3 of 3