Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish Act of 2025

## Summary The QUAHOGS Act of 2025 establishes an East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force to address declining harvests and ecological challenges affecting bivalves like quahogs (hard clams), oysters, mussels, and scallops along the East Coast. The task force will review existing research, identify gaps in understanding, and create a coordinated strategy to support sustainable wild fisheries and aquaculture operations. It will examine factors like climate change, habitat loss, disease, and water quality, while incorporating traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous communities. The group must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years, including recommendations for future research and solutions to protect bivalve populations. This effort aims to stabilize ecosystems, bolster coastal economies, and ensure the long-term viability of bivalve-related industries. ## Key Points - Task Force Creation: Requires the Secretary of Commerce to form a multidisciplinary group within 90 days, including federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, USDA), regional fishery councils, state agencies, tribal representatives, industry stakeholders, and academic experts. - Research Focus: Prioritizes studies on habitat needs, climate change impacts (e.g., ocean warming, acidification), disease mitigation, restoration techniques, and economic barriers for small-scale aquaculture. - Work Groups: Mandates two initial work groups—one on quahog populations in Rhode Island and the East Coast, and another on climate change impacts—with potential for more region- or species-specific groups. - Collaborative Approach: Emphasizes integrating traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous tribes and balancing stakeholder perspectives (commercial, recreational, scientific) in research and management. - Reporting Requirements: Requires a final report with actionable recommendations and findings, plus an interim progress update, to guide federal and state policies on bivalve conservation. ## Impact Areas - Primary: Commercial and recreational bivalve fishing industries, aquaculture operations, and coastal communities reliant on shellfish harvests. - Secondary: Regional fishery management councils and state agencies responsible for marine resources and environmental protection. - Additional: Tribal nations with historical ties to bivalve ecosystems, academic institutions conducting marine research, and federal agencies like NOAA and EPA tasked with addressing climate and water quality challenges. *Technical terms explained*: - Bivalve: Shellfish with two hinged shells (e.g., clams, oysters). - Multitrophic restoration: Ecosystem recovery efforts combining species like bivalves and seagrass that support each other. - Larval dispersal: How shellfish offspring spread to new areas, critical for population sustainability. - Assisted migration: Human-led relocation of species to adapt to climate shifts.