The governor, representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative and the Rhode Island Shellfisherman's Association gathered recently at The Guild Restaurant in town to celebrate the industry as part of the ninth annual Quahog Week.

The gathering held locally Wednesday, May 11, was part of a week-long series of events to “shell-ebrate” what those involved called "the cultural and economic importance of the quahog," which Rhode Island’s official state clam.

“Quahog Week is a proud Rhode Island tradition that highlights the cultural and economic importance of the shellfishing industry,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Thanks to cleaner waters, stemming from strong investments and environmental laws, more areas are now open to harvest. It’s a great time for both commercial harvesters and families to enjoy quahogging.”

The aim of the week was to highlight the shellfishermen around the state as well as those who process and sell the product in their businesses, whether they be wholesalers or restauranteurs.

According to the DEM, quahogs are the state’s most "economically significant" fishery from Narragansett Bay, with over 13.5 million harvested in 2024 by 444 shellfishers worth more than $3.5 million. They rank fifth in value among the state’s marine fisheries, after squid, scallops, lobster and summer flounder.

The RI Seafood Marketing Collaborative, a public-private body that aims to support local fishers and seafood farmers, was established by the General Assembly in 2011. Its membership includes representatives from all key sectors of the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood industries joined by representatives from the University of Rhode Island, RI Sea Grant, and other state agencies including DEM, RI Commerce, the Rhode Island Department of Health and the RI Coastal Resources Management Council.

Though quahogging is a year-round business, peak demand for variations of littlenecks and "steamers" used in chowders, clam cakes and "stuffies" occurs during the summer months. Commercial harvesters raked in over 100,000 pounds of quahogs alone in the week prior to The Guild event.

— East Bay Media Group and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Julie Furtado shot the accompanying gallery of photos.