PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is pushing for an investigation into why the state's quahog and native shellfish populations are declining.

Whitehouse, alongside Sen. Tim Scott, introduced legislation earlier this week that calls for the establishment of a research task force, which would look into the matter and issue a report on its findings.

The goal of the legislation — dubbed the Quantifying Uncertainty and Action to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish (QUAHOGS) Act — is to figure out why the native shellfish populations are declining and identify ways to slow or stop it.

"Quahogging in Narragansett Bay is a quintessential Rhode Island trade whose harvest brings us the Ocean State summer staples of clear chowder and stuffies," Whitehouse said. "Unfortunately, quahog

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