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Bipartisan QUAHOGS Act Introduced to Address East Coast Shellfish Decline
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Key points
- Bipartisan House members introduced HR 10855 to address dropping shellfish populations along the Atlantic Coast.
- The QUAHOGS Act establishes an interagency research task force led by NOAA within 90 days.
- The panel will evaluate economic impacts and key environmental stressors, issuing a report within two years.
NewsWK — Bipartisan federal lawmakers recently introduced new legislation to protect Atlantic marine industries. U.S. Representative Gabe Amo and Representative Andrew Garbarino filed the measure during the 119th Congress. Consequently, the proposal targets severe population losses among native shellfish species along the Eastern Seaboard.
What is the QUAHOGS Act?
The Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish Act carries the short title QUAHOGS Act. Also registered as HR 10855, the legislation addresses falling stocks of quahogs, oysters, mussels, and scallops. The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to form a specialized task force within 90 days. Representative Amo announced the Gabe Amo shellfish bill at Naval Station Newport while concluding his 2026 Blue Economy Tour.
How will HR 10855 impact East Coast watermen?
HR 10855 directly supports working waterfronts by combining scientific expertise with practical industry experience. Therefore, the legislative effort brings together commercial fishermen, state agencies, and federal officials to safeguard coastal economies.
What will the East Coast bivalve research panel accomplish?
NOAA will chair the 16-to-21-member panel under the federal mandate. Furthermore, members will include representatives from the EPA, the USDA, regional fishery councils, Tribes, and academic institutions. Within two years, the group must present a comprehensive report on bivalve health and research priorities. Meanwhile, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Tim Scott introduced companion bill S. 2883 in the Senate.
Officials expect the research team to investigate several key environmental stressors:
- Water quality degradation and shoreline habitat erosion
- Disease outbreaks and changing marine conditions
- Growth obstacles facing modern aquaculture businesses
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
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