The MAWS Act of 2026 establishes a NOAA pilot program to incentivize the commercial harvest and processing of invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to support local watermen and improve ecosystem health.
Sarah Elfreth
Representative
MD-3
The MAWS Act of 2026 establishes a two-year pilot program to incentivize the removal of invasive blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. By providing funding to pet food and animal feed manufacturers, the program encourages the purchase of blue catfish from local watermen at set prices. Additionally, the act mandates improved data collection and reporting to better track the species' abundance and assess the program's 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 targeted strike against the invasive blue catfish population currently taking over the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Instead of just asking people to fish more, this bill creates a two-year pilot program that puts money behind the effort. It authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to enter into cooperative agreements with companies that make pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed. These companies will get federal funding to buy blue catfish directly from local watermen and seafood processors, provided they pay at least a minimum price per pound set by the government. The goal is to turn an environmental problem into a reliable paycheck for the people who work the water.
Turning Pests into Pet Food
The bill focuses on building a bridge between the folks on the boats and the manufacturing plants. Under Section 2, businesses that process animal feed can use these federal funds to purchase blue catfish, with a small allowance—up to 15 percent—to help cover the costs of trucking the fish to their facilities. To make sure the money stays local, watermen and processors have to certify that the fish were actually pulled from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. For a local fisherman, this means a guaranteed market for a catch that might otherwise be hard to sell, while the pet food industry gets a steady stream of raw material at a subsidized rate.
Data-Driven Fishing
This isn't just about writing checks; it’s about getting the science right. The bill requires the government to team up with Maryland, Virginia, and research institutions to figure out exactly how many blue catfish are out there. By September 30, 2027, the Secretary must release an official estimate of the population and update it every year through 2032. This data is crucial because it helps track whether the program is actually thinning out the invasive population or if the fish are breeding faster than we can turn them into kibble. It also ensures that the minimum price per pound stays fair by requiring the Secretary to adjust it based on market factors and feedback from the people actually doing the work.
Accountability and the Long Game
Because this is a pilot program, the government is keeping it on a short leash with a two-year expiration date and mandatory quarterly briefings for Congress. Within 180 days of the program’s end, a massive report is due that looks at everything from the diet of the catfish to the economic impact on watermen’s bank accounts. This report will be the deciding factor on whether this model gets expanded to other invasive species or other parts of the country. For the average person living near the Bay, this could mean a healthier ecosystem and a more stable local economy, provided the program can overcome the logistical hurdles of transporting and processing millions of pounds of fish.