QUAHOGS Act Launches Task Force to Tackle East Coast Shellfish Decline, Focusing on Climate and Aquaculture

The “Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish Act of 2025”—or the QUAHOGS Act—is a targeted effort to save the East Coast’s shellfish industry, which has been dealing with shrinking and unpredictable harvests. This bill establishes a new, high-level group to figure out exactly why clams, oysters, and mussels are struggling and what to do about it. The goal is straightforward: stabilize the populations of commercially important bivalves and support the people who catch and farm them.

The Shellfish Crisis, Decoded

This isn't just about losing a favorite seafood dish; it's about jobs and local economies. The bill states its purpose is to create a coordinated research strategy to combat the fact that harvests for species like the Northern and Southern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria and M. campechiensis) are becoming unpredictable. If you work in a coastal town, run a restaurant, or rely on the fishing industry, this bill is aiming to provide the scientific data needed to keep that local economy afloat. It specifically defines "bivalve" to include clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops—anything with two hinged shells.

The Task Force Taking the Helm

The core of the QUAHOGS Act is the creation of the East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force. The Secretary of Commerce has 90 days to assemble this team of 16 to 21 experts. This isn't just a bunch of bureaucrats; the members must include representatives from federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, USDA), state fish and wildlife agencies, tribal entities, academics specializing in everything from biology to economics, and—crucially—3 to 6 people from the shellfish supply chain itself, including harvesters, processors, and aquaculture operators. Their mission is to review all current research, identify the gaps, and recommend solutions for both wild fisheries and shellfish farming (aquaculture).

Climate Change and the Cost of Doing Business

The Task Force’s mandate is incredibly detailed, covering everything from traditional ecological knowledge to disease management. Two major areas of focus stand out for their real-world impact. First, they must investigate the current and future effects of climate change, including warmer water, ocean acidification, and rising sea levels. This means they’ll be looking at solutions like "assisted migration"—literally figuring out if certain shellfish need to be moved to cooler areas to survive. Second, they must look at the regulatory hurdles faced by small aquaculture operations. If you’re a small business trying to farm oysters, this bill aims to streamline the science and potentially the regulations that are currently making your life difficult.

To manage this heavy workload, the Task Force must immediately establish two specific work groups: one focused entirely on quahog research needs across the East Coast, and another dedicated to the impacts of climate change on all bivalves.

The Hidden Cost of Expertise

While the bill is positive for the industry, there's a practical detail that might affect who actually serves on this important Task Force. The bill specifies that all members of the Task Force and its work groups must serve without any pay. They can be reimbursed for travel expenses like lodging and meals, but their time is essentially volunteered. For a small business owner who is a harvester or an aquaculture operator, taking time away from their job to travel and attend meetings—even virtually—could be a significant financial burden. This could potentially limit the Task Force to members who are already salaried by large organizations or government agencies, reducing the diversity of the essential on-the-ground expertise the bill aims to include.