S2883-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish Act of 2025 or the QUAHOGS Act of 2025.

2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— to ensure that bivalve trends in East Coast States regarding productivity and abundance are characterized and that research needs are identified; to prioritize scientific research needs for commercially harvested and aquacultured East Coast bivalves; to address the increased variability or decline in harvests of key bivalve species in East Coast States, including quahogs (hard clams), by creating a coordinated bivalve research strategy; and to support collaboration and coordination for bivalve conservation efforts in East Coast States.

3. Definitions In this Act: The term bivalve means aquatic mollusks that have an external 2-part hinged shell containing a soft-bodied invertebrate, including clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops. The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). The term quahog (hard clam) means the Northern quahog or hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, as well as the Southern quahog or Southern hard clam, Mercenaria campechiensis.

4. East Coast bivalve research task force Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Chairs of the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall convene an East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force (referred to in this section as the Research Task Force) to— review existing bivalve research in East Coast States; identify applied research needed to better understand the increased variability and declining harvests of quahogs (hard clams) and other bivalves in some parts of the East Coast; support sustainable bivalve fisheries in East Coast States; support sustainable bivalve aquaculture operations; and evaluate economic impacts of bivalve wild populations, fisheries, and aquaculture. The Research Task Force shall be composed of not fewer than 16 and not more than 21 members, who shall be appointed under paragraph (2). The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint members to the Research Task Force as follows: One representative from each of the following: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who is knowledgeable about bivalve research efforts in East Coast States. The Environmental Protection Agency who is knowledgeable about United States water quality assessments and standards for bivalve and human health. The United States Department of Agriculture who is experienced in aquaculture research or management. The New England Fishery Management Council. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. One representative from a State fish and wildlife management agency from each of— the region defined by the New England Fishery Management Council; the region defined by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; and the region defined by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Not less than 1 and not more than 3 representatives of Indian Tribes with current or historic, or both, knowledge of and reliance on East Coast bivalves to be appointed with due regard to differences in regional perspectives and experience. Not less than 3 and not more than 6 representatives from the bivalve fishing industry throughout the supply chain to be appointed with due regard to differences in regional perspectives and experience, including from— directed commercial harvesting; recreational harvesting; fisheries of an Indian Tribe; bivalve processors or distributors; or bivalve aquaculture, including hatcheries. 5 representatives who are academic experts in bivalve biology and ecology, bivalve habitat restoration and conservation, bivalve aquaculture, comprehensive marine research planning in East Coast States, or the economics or social dynamics of bivalve fisheries and aquaculture, including at least 1 representative with expertise in quahogs (hard clams). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration representative described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) shall be the Chair of the Research Task Force. The Research Task Force shall— conduct a review of bivalve science relevant to understanding current and potential future harvests of quahogs (hard clams) and other culturally or economically important bivalve species in East Coast States, as well as solutions to identified problems, including an examination of— traditional ecological knowledge of bivalve populations and their ecosystems, including potential for incorporation into management plans; habitat requirements for bivalve populations, including water quality and potential for water quality improvement or alteration through habitat restoration or other means, as well as potential future habitat change; impacts of erosion and sedimentation on bivalve populations and farms, including potential mitigation techniques; current and future impacts of climate change on bivalves, including ocean warming, ocean acidification, and sea level rise; conditions and techniques for successful restoration, including feasibility of multitrophic restoration, such as bivalves and seagrass meadows; mitigation strategies for climate change impacts, including assisted migration; culture and breeding techniques, including genomic modifications to meet different commercial, recreational, and restoration needs; life cycle, including larval dispersal, recruitment dynamics, life-stage specific mortality, and growth rate; current and historic ranges, as well as potential future range shifts due to climate change; prevalence of diseases and disease mitigating strategies; management strategies for sustainable bivalve aquaculture and potential impacts; and economic value and potential of bivalve aquaculture, including financial and regulatory barriers to entry for small-scale operations; identify— scientific research gaps in understanding the ecology of culturally and economically important bivalve species in East Coast States; and the needs for developing solutions to declining harvests and other identified problems, including with respect to quahogs (hard clams); consider both current and future impacts on the health and populations of bivalves in East Coast States; and identify solutions to current and predicted impacts on the health and populations of bivalves in East Coast States. Not later than 2 years after the date the Research Task Force is established, the Chair of the Research Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and make publicly available, a report— describing the review conducted under paragraph (1); and that includes— recommendations on filling knowledge gaps that warrant further scientific inquiry; and findings from the reports of work groups submitted under subsection (d)(2)(C). Not later than 1 year after the date the Research Task Force is established, the Chair of the Research Task Force shall submit to the individuals and entities described in subparagraph (A) and make publicly available an interim progress report describing the review conducted under paragraph (1). The Research Task Force shall select a Vice Chair by vote from among the members of the Research Task Force. The Research Task Force— not later than 30 days after the date of the establishment of the Research Task Force, shall establish a work group focused specifically on the research needs associated with quahog (hard clams) populations in Rhode Island and across the East Coast; not later than 30 days after the date of the establishment of the Research Task Force, shall establish a work group focused on the current and potential future impacts of climate change on bivalve populations in East Coast States; and may establish additional regionally or stock focused work groups within the Research Task Force, as members determine appropriate. Each work group established under this subsection shall— consist of not less than 5 individuals who— are knowledgeable about the species, issue, or region under consideration; and shall include at least 1 member of the Research Task Force, though the others need not be; and be balanced in terms of stakeholder representation, including commercial and aquaculture fisheries, as well as experts in statistical, biological, economic, social, or other scientific information as relevant to the work group’s focus. Not later than 2 years after the date the Research Task Force is established, each work group established under this subsection shall submit a report with the work group's findings to the Research Task Force. Each member of the Research Task Force and each member of a work group shall serve without compensation. A member of the Research Task Force and a member of a work group shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Research Task Force. The Secretary of Commerce shall provide such administrative support as is necessary for the Research Task Force and its work groups to carry out their duties, which may include support for virtual or in-person participation. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.