The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act (H.R. 4294), known as the MAWS Act of 2026, on March 16, 2026, advancing a bipartisan initiative to combat invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay through a new market channel.
The bill, introduced July 7, 2025, by Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03) and co-sponsored by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), with Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) as an original cosponsor, cleared the House under suspension of the rules following debate. It advanced from the House Natural Resources Committee, where it was reported favorably as amended on February 23, 2026, after unanimous committee approval on January 22, 2026.
The legislation amends Section 307 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a two-year pilot program in NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office. NOAA will enter cooperative agreements with pet food, animal feed, and aquaculture feed manufacturers or processors to purchase blue catfish harvested from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by watermen or acquired through seafood processors.
Grants will incentivize increased harvests by supporting transportation, processing, and manufacturing infrastructure for a long-term market. NOAA will determine minimum purchase prices per pound, considering market factors, input from watermen, processors, scientists, and economists, and differentiating between fillets, byproducts, and whole fish. Up to 15% of funds may support related transportation.
The program addresses regulatory hurdles, including USDA inspection requirements unique to blue catfish that differ from FDA standards for other fisheries, limiting expansion of human consumption markets despite the fish being safe and nutritious.
Blue catfish, native to the Mississippi River drainage and introduced to the region decades ago, now dominate as the most abundant biomass in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, comprising up to 75% of total fish weight in some rivers. Their aggressive feeding preys on native species including menhaden, striped bass, shad, and blue crabs, threatening biodiversity and inflicting economic damage on Maryland and Virginia seafood industries.
The pilot requires NOAA to collect data on ecological benefits to fish and crustacean populations, as well as economic impacts. The agency must submit reports to Congress on best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations for continuation or expansion to other invasive species challenges, such as carp in the Mississippi River and Great Lakes.
Congressman Hoyer stated: “The Chesapeake Bay is the beating heart of Maryland, and invasive blue catfish threaten the very ecosystems and communities that the watershed sustains. I was proud to join my friend Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth on the MAWS Act and help secure passage of this vital legislation to combat blue catfish and protect our beloved Bay.”
Congresswoman Elfreth said: “With House passage of the MAWS Act, we are one step closer to creating new opportunities in a growing market for blue catfish, which pose a direct ecological and economic threat to the Chesapeake Bay. While we can all do our part and order blue catfish when we see it on a menu, this is not a problem that we alone can eat our way out of. That’s why we need bipartisan, innovative solutions, like the MAWS Act, that strengthen our local economy and preserve the health of the Bay. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation past the finish line. If we can prove this innovative strategy works in the Chesapeake, my hope is it can utilize similar tools in waterways across the country – like invasive carp in the Mississippi and Great Lakes.”
Rep. Wittman stated: “The MAWS Act will facilitate a new market for invasive blue catfish — protecting the biodiversity of the Chesapeake Bay. I am pleased that the House has passed this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it advance to the Senate. Preserving the health of the Bay remains one of my top priorities, and I am proud to have joined Congresswoman Elfreth in leading this critical legislation.”
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek stated: “Blue catfish are a major threat to the Bay and the fish, crabs, and other species that call it home. This bill provides a resourceful solution to address this threat. The more blue catfish watermen catch, the better for the Bay. Standing up a new market for invasive blue catfish as pet food will complement the growing demand for delicious wild-caught Chesapeake catfish that people are already enjoying. We’re grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Elfreth and Congressman Wittman in finding creative ways to fight the Bay’s blue catfish problem.”
In Southern Maryland, where the Potomac River and other tributaries connect to the Bay, the overabundance affects local watermen, recreational angling, and seafood-dependent economies in counties like Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s. The pilot supports regional harvest increases while aiding processors and restoring balance to vital ecosystems.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.