R 178 |
2019 -- S 0735 Enacted 03/28/2019 |
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 |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Ruggerio, Algiere, Metts, and Lawson |
Date Introduced: March 28, 2019 |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island is widely and increasingly recognized for its food industry; |
and |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island's booming local food sector now supports more than 60,000 |
jobs throughout the State and continues to attract and inspire the imagination of entrepreneurs and |
innovators; and |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island's fishing and seafood sector has been, and continues to be, a |
vital part of the Rhode Island food industry; and |
WHEREAS, A recently completed study by the University of Rhode Island found that the |
total economic impact of the Rhode Island 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 harvest |
from Narragansett Bay, with the quahog fishery being the fourth most valuable of all Rhode |
Island fisheries, following scallops, squid, and lobsters; and |
WHEREAS, In 2018, over 22 million quahogs were harvested and landed in Rhode |
Island, with an off-the-boat value of $4.7 million; and |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island's commercial quahog fishery is characterized by independent |
owner/operators who typically work alone on small boats ranging up to twenty-five feet in length; |
and |
WHEREAS, There are about 550 licensed commercial shell-fishermen and women |
engaged in the quahog fishery in Rhode Island, with about 250 engaged full-time and year-round; |
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 who brave harsh winter conditions to maintain a |
stable fishery and market; and |
WHEREAS, Demand for quahogs tends to peak during the summer when stuffies and |
clam cakes are the main attractions, even though quahogs also make the perfect fare for |
chowders, pasta dishes, clams on the half-shell, and other scrumptious dishes during the fall, |
winter, and spring; 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 the creation of "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 during a time of year when fresh local |
clams are readily available, but often overlooked; and |
WHEREAS, The 4th Annual "Quahog Week" takes place in 2019 during the week of |
March 25-31; and |
WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2019" features a large number of restaurants and markets |
throughout the State offering quahog-based specials on their menus and in their display cases; and |
WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2019" also features two special events, free and open to the |
public, taking place at Whalers Brewing Company in South Kingstown and Hope & Main in |
Warren; and |
WHEREAS, "Quahog Week 2019" also includes a State House event at which the Rhode |
Island Shellfishermen's Association will be shucking and serving freshly harvested quahogs, |
accompanied by quahog-based samplers prepared and served by the expert chefs from Johnson & |
Wales University's College of Culinary Arts; and |
WHEREAS, All the public events associated with "Quahog Week 2019" are featured on |
the SeafoodRI.com website; now, therefore be it |
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
hereby congratulates the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative, the Rhode Island Shell- |
Fishermen's Association, and the many partners who have joined together to make "Quahog |
Week 2019" a rousing success; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby takes this opportunity to herald our local quahog |
resource, local quahog fishery, and local seafood industry; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby recognizes and supports the many hard-working |
men and women who harvest quahogs and make them available to consumers, as well as the |
many restaurants and markets and food-based businesses committed to growing Rhode Island's |
food economy; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby encourages all Rhode Islanders to support Rhode |
Island's local quahog industry by enjoying a delicious Rhode Island quahog-based meal at their |
favorite restaurant, or at home, not just during this special week, but 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, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and to Mr. Michael |
McGiveney, President of the Rhode Island Shellfisherman's Association. |
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LC002227 |
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