Pilot program would pay watermen to catch invasive Chesapeake blue catfish

What does this do?

The MAWS Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Commerce to run a three-year pilot program funding pet food, animal feed, and aquaculture feed companies to buy blue catfish from local fishermen and seafood processors. The government would set a minimum price per pound to ensure fair pay, and companies could use some funding for transportation costs. The program runs January 2027 through December 2029, and the Secretary must report to Congress on its results afterward.

Who does it affect?

Commercial fishermen and seafood processors in the Chesapeake Bay region (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.), plus companies producing pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed.

Why does it matter?

Removing more blue catfish from the bay could reduce harm to native fish and ecosystems, while the program's results may inform whether similar approaches are used against invasive carp in the Mississippi River area.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• $2 million authorized per year
• runs 2027 through 2029