2019 -- S 0735 | |
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LC002227 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
COMMEMORATING "QUAHOG WEEK 2019" FROM MARCH 25 TO MARCH 31 | |
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Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Ruggerio, Algiere, Metts, and Lawson | |
Date Introduced: March 28, 2019 | |
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration | |
1 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island is widely and increasingly recognized for its food industry; |
2 | and |
3 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island's booming local food sector now supports more than 60,000 |
4 | jobs throughout the State and continues to attract and inspire the imagination of entrepreneurs and |
5 | innovators; and |
6 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island's fishing and seafood sector has been, and continues to be, a |
7 | vital part of the Rhode Island food industry; and |
8 | WHEREAS, A recently completed study by the University of Rhode Island found that the |
9 | total economic impact of the Rhode Island fisheries and seafood sector is nearly 4,400 jobs and |
10 | $540 million annually; and |
11 | WHEREAS, The Rhode Island quahog fishery plays a particularly important role in the |
12 | history, culture, and economy of the State; and |
13 | WHEREAS, The quahog is the most economically important marine resource harvest |
14 | from Narragansett Bay, with the quahog fishery being the fourth most valuable of all Rhode |
15 | Island fisheries, following scallops, squid, and lobsters; and |
16 | WHEREAS, In 2018, over 22 million quahogs were harvested and landed in Rhode |
17 | Island, with an off-the-boat value of $4.7 million; and |
18 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island's commercial quahog fishery is characterized by independent |
19 | owner/operators who typically work alone on small boats ranging up to twenty-five feet in length; |
20 | and |
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1 | WHEREAS, There are about 550 licensed commercial shell-fishermen and women |
2 | engaged in the quahog fishery in Rhode Island, with about 250 engaged full-time and year-round; |
3 | and |
4 | WHEREAS, The Rhode Island quahog fishery produces a steady supply of fresh product |
5 | to the market throughout the year, thanks to a well-managed, sustainable resource and the grit and |
6 | determination of the hard-working harvesters who brave harsh winter conditions to maintain a |
7 | stable fishery and market; and |
8 | WHEREAS, Demand for quahogs tends to peak during the summer when stuffies and |
9 | clam cakes are the main attractions, even though quahogs also make the perfect fare for |
10 | chowders, pasta dishes, clams on the half-shell, and other scrumptious dishes during the fall, |
11 | winter, and spring; and |
12 | WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative was established by the |
13 | Rhode Island General Assembly in 2011 for the purpose of promoting and advancing the interests |
14 | of Rhode Island's seafood industry; and |
15 | WHEREAS, A key outgrowth of the Collaborative has been the creation of "Quahog |
16 | Week," an annual statewide celebration that highlights the importance and appeal of Rhode |
17 | Island's iconic clam; and |
18 | WHEREAS, "Quahog Week" has proven successful in increasing consumer awareness |
19 | and demand and associated sales and market opportunities during a time of year when fresh local |
20 | clams are readily available, but often overlooked; and |
21 | WHEREAS, The 4th Annual "Quahog Week" takes place in 2019 during the week of |
22 | March 25-31; and |
23 | WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2019" features a large number of restaurants and markets |
24 | throughout the State offering quahog-based specials on their menus and in their display cases; and |
25 | WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2019" also features two special events, free and open to the |
26 | public, taking place at Whalers Brewing Company in South Kingstown and Hope & Main in |
27 | Warren; and |
28 | WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2019" also includes a State House event at which the Rhode |
29 | Island Shellfishermen's Association will be shucking and serving freshly harvested quahogs, |
30 | accompanied by quahog-based samplers prepared and served by the expert chefs from Johnson & |
31 | Wales University's College of Culinary Arts; and |
32 | WHEREAS, All the public events associated with "Quahog Week 2019" are featured on |
33 | the SeafoodRI.com website; now, therefore be it |
34 | RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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1 | hereby congratulates the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative, the Rhode Island Shell- |
2 | Fishermen's Association, and the many partners who have joined together to make "Quahog |
3 | Week 2019" a rousing success; and be it further |
4 | RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby takes this opportunity to herald our local quahog |
5 | resource, local quahog fishery, and local seafood industry; and be it further |
6 | RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby recognizes and supports the many hard-working |
7 | men and women who harvest quahogs and make them available to consumers, as well as the |
8 | many restaurants and markets and food-based businesses committed to growing Rhode Island's |
9 | food economy; and be it further |
10 | RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby encourages all Rhode Islanders to support Rhode |
11 | Island's local quahog industry by enjoying a delicious Rhode Island quahog-based meal at their |
12 | favorite restaurant, or at home, not just during this special week, but throughout the year; and be |
13 | it further |
14 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
15 | transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing |
16 | Collaborative, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and to Mr. Michael |
17 | McGiveney, President of the Rhode Island Shellfisherman's Association. |
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LC002227 | |
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