MAWS Act of 2026

TL;DR (AI)

• The Secretary of Commerce will establish a Blue Catfish Pilot Program to address the invasive blue catfish population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
• The program will enter into cooperative agreements with covered entities to purchase blue catfish from watermen and seafood processors, with a minimum purchase price per pound determined by the Secretary.
• The pilot program will last for two years and include reporting to Congress on its effects, including economic impacts on watermen, market response, and policy recommendations for continuation or expansion.