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

This bill, the QUAHOGS Act of 2025, establishes a federal East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force to address declining harvests of shellfish like quahogs (hard clams) along the East Coast. The task force - comprising government agencies, state fishery managers, tribal representatives, industry stakeholders, and academic experts - will review existing research, identify scientific gaps, and evaluate climate impacts on bivalve populations. It requires two reports within two years, detailing research priorities and solutions for sustaining shellfish fisheries and aquaculture. The bill directly affects East Coast commercial and recreational shellfish harvesters, aquaculture operations, and coastal communities reliant on bivalve resources.