Bill > HR4294

This bill, known as the MAWS Act of 2026 or the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026, directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to establish a two-year pilot program focused on the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The program aims to support watermen (commercial fishermen) and seafood processors by creating cooperative agreements with "covered entities" – businesses that manufacture or process pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed. These covered entities will purchase blue catfish from watermen or seafood processors at a Secretary-determined minimum price, considering market factors and feedback, and can use a portion of the funds for transportation costs. The bill also mandates the Secretary to work with non-Federal partners to establish an abundance baseline for blue catfish in the watershed and to provide Congress with a comprehensive report at the program's conclusion, detailing its ecological and economic impacts, market response, and policy recommendations for continuation or expansion to other watersheds, particularly concerning invasive species.