MAWS Act of 2026
Key claim: The MAWS Act of 2026 requires NOAA to establish a pilot program that buys invasive blue catfish from Chesapeake Bay watermen and processors for pet, animal, and aquaculture feed at a market-informed minimum price, and to publish abundance estimates before the program begins.
Abstract
(HR4294 · 119th Congress) Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026 or the MAWS Act of 2026 This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a pilot program to facilitate the purchase of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. (Blue catfish are considered an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay.) Under the program, NOAA must enter into cooperative agreements with manufacturers or processors of pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed for the purchase of blue catfish from watermen and seafood processors. NOAA must determine the minimum price per pound after considering market factors; feedback from watermen, seafood processors, and participants in the program; and differentiation of price points for fillet and byproduct. The bill also requires NOAA to enter into a memorandum of understanding with nonfederal partners to develop abundance estimates of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. NOAA must make the first abundance estimate publicly available before beginning the pilot program. Latest action (2026-03-18): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
The pilot creates a federal demand-side market for an invasive species, potentially giving Chesapeake Bay watermen a new revenue stream while reducing predation pressure on native fisheries. For consumers and feed buyers, it could add a domestic protein source for pet food and aquaculture at a floor price, though the scale, cost, and long-term effect on blue catfish populations and feed markets remain to be seen.