HR4294-119

What This Bill Does

The MAWS Act creates a NOAA blue catfish pilot program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992. The Secretary must use cooperative agreements with covered entities so those entities can purchase blue catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from watermen or buy fish from seafood processors that purchased from those watermen. Covered entities must apply in a form the Secretary sets. Award funds must be used to purchase blue catfish at no less than the Secretary's minimum price per pound, and up to 15 percent may offset transportation costs to manufacturing or processing facilities. Watermen must certify that the fish were caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and seafood processors must certify that their fish came from eligible watermen. The program is aimed at moving invasive blue catfish into manufacturing, pet food, animal feed, aquaculture feed, or processing markets.

Who Benefits and How

Chesapeake Bay watermen benefit from a guaranteed purchase channel and a Secretary-set minimum price for eligible blue catfish. Chesapeake Bay seafood processors benefit because covered entities can buy qualifying fish that processors purchased from watermen. Covered entities benefit from cooperative-agreement funds and limited transportation-cost reimbursement. Pet food manufacturers benefit from a supply of blue catfish for manufacturing or processing. Chesapeake Bay ecosystem managers benefit if more invasive blue catfish are harvested from the watershed.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NOAA program officers must run the pilot, review applications, set minimum prices, coordinate with existing programs, and monitor cooperative agreements. Covered entities must apply, follow purchase rules, document use of funds, and limit transportation offsets to 15 percent. Watermen must certify that fish were caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Seafood processors must certify that fish came from eligible watermen. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of cooperative-agreement awards.

Key Provisions

• Creates a NOAA blue catfish pilot program using cooperative agreements with covered entities.
• Requires covered entities to buy blue catfish from Chesapeake Bay watermen or qualifying seafood processors.
• Allows no more than 15 percent of award funds to offset transportation to manufacturing or processing facilities.
• Requires watermen and seafood processors to certify Chesapeake Bay Watershed source eligibility.
• Directs the Secretary to set a minimum price per pound for blue catfish sold under the program.