The MAWS Act of 2026 establishes a NOAA pilot program to reduce the invasive blue catfish population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by incentivizing the commercial purchase of the fish for pet and animal feed production.
Sarah Elfreth
Representative
MD-3
The MAWS Act of 2026 establishes a NOAA pilot program to combat the invasive blue catfish population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. By incentivizing the purchase of these fish for pet and animal feed production, the legislation aims to support local watermen while creating a sustainable market to manage the species. The program includes rigorous data collection and reporting requirements to evaluate its environmental and economic impact.
| Party | Total Votes | Yes | No | Did Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | 217 | 128 | 65 | 24 |
Democrat | 214 | 192 | 1 | 21 |
MAWS Act of 2026: New Pilot Program Sets Minimum Prices for Invasive Blue Catfish to Support Watermen and Protect the Chesapeake
The MAWS Act of 2026 is a two-year offensive against the blue catfish, an invasive species currently wreaking havoc on the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. To tackle this, the bill tasks NOAA with creating a pilot program that essentially builds a market where one doesn't currently exist. Instead of just hoping people start eating more catfish, the government will partner with 'covered entities'—specifically companies that make pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed—and give them funds to buy these fish directly from local watermen and seafood processors. Under Section 2, the Secretary of Commerce will set a minimum price per pound for these fish, ensuring that the people doing the hard work of pulling them out of the water are actually getting paid a fair wage for their effort.
Turning Pests into Pet Food
This isn't just a subsidy; it’s a logistics play. The bill allows feed manufacturers to use up to 15 percent of their awarded funds specifically to cover the costs of trucking the fish from the docks to their processing plants. For a local seafood processor or a waterman, this means a guaranteed buyer for a catch that used to be a nuisance. To keep things honest, the bill requires strict certification: watermen must prove the fish were caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and processors have to verify they bought from those specific fishers. By focusing on the animal feed industry, the bill finds a high-volume home for a species that is currently out-competing native Maryland and Virginia blue crabs and rockfish.
Data-Driven Fishing
Starting September 30, 2027, the government isn't just throwing money at the problem; they’re counting the fish. The Secretary of Commerce will work with state agencies in Maryland and Virginia to publish annual estimates of the blue catfish population. This data is crucial because it determines if the program is actually working to thin out the invasive schools. If you’re a recreational fisher or someone who relies on the Bay’s health for tourism or local seafood, this section is the 'scoreboard' that tracks whether the native species are getting the breathing room they need to recover from the blue catfish invasion.
The Long Game for Other Regions
The pilot program is set for a two-year run, but its impact could reach far beyond the Mid-Atlantic. Within 180 days of the program’s end, NOAA has to report back to Congress on everything from the economic impact on watermen’s revenue to how the market responded to the influx of catfish byproducts. Most importantly, the bill specifically asks for recommendations on whether this 'pay-to-remove' model should be expanded to other invasive headaches, like the carp clogging up the Mississippi River. While the program is targeted, the challenge will be in the implementation—ensuring the minimum price set by the Secretary is high enough to get boats on the water but balanced enough to keep the feed industry interested.