In committee
MAWS Act of 2026
Commercial fishers in the Chesapeake Bay region will gain a new, subsidized market for invasive blue catfish through a two-year federal pilot program. The government will provide grants to pet food, livestock feed, and fish farming companies to buy blue catfish from local fishers and processors at a set minimum price per pound, with up to 15 percent of the funds covering transportation costs. In addition to supporting fishers' incomes and shrinking the predator population, federal scientists will track fish stocks through 2032 to see if paying manufacturers to process invasive fish could work for other troubled waterways, such as the Mississippi River basin.
People affected—The text does not specify the number of watermen, seafood processors, or feed manufacturers eligible or expected to participate in the pilot program.
Fiscal magnitude—The operative text does not specify an appropriation amount or cap, directing the Secretary to utilize existing applicable programs and activities.
Reach20provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Federal lands & resources+14
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Pet, animal, and aquaculture feed manufacturersEligible to receive federal cooperative agreement funds to buy invasive blue catfish and use up to 15 percent of the award to offset transportation costs (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1), Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)).
- Commercial watermen in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedGain a federally subsidized market to sell invasive blue catfish at or above a government-set minimum price per pound (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1)(A), Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)(A), Sec. 2(2)(e)(5)).
- Seafood processorsCan sell blue catfish purchased from local watermen to program-funded feed manufacturers at or above the federally determined minimum price (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1)(B), Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)(A), Sec. 2(2)(e)(5)).
Who it burdens
- Watermen and seafood processors selling under the pilot programMust certify that any blue catfish sold to participating feed manufacturers were caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Sec. 2(2)(e)(4)).
- Participating feed manufacturersMust spend awarded cooperative agreement funds to purchase blue catfish at or above the federally mandated minimum price per pound and cannot spend more than 15 percent of funds on transportation costs (Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)).
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)Must administer the pilot program, determine minimum fish prices, establish data-sharing agreements with state and research partners, publish annual population estimates through FY 2032, issue guidance within a year, provide quarterly congressional briefings, and submit a final report (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1), Sec. 2(2)(e)(5)-(9)).