US HB4294

Secretary of Commerce must establish a 2-year pilot program for cooperative agreements with pet food, animal feed, and aquaculture feed manufacturers to purchase invasive blue catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Covered entities may use up to 15% of awarded funds to offset transportation costs to processing facilities; watermen and seafood processors must certify fish were caught within the watershed

Secretary must determine minimum purchase price per pound considering market factors and differentiated pricing for fillet versus byproduct

Within 180 days of enactment, Secretary must seek memoranda of understanding with Maryland, Virginia, and research institutions to compile data and develop annual blue catfish abundance estimates through fiscal year 2032

Secretary must provide quarterly briefings to Congress and submit a final report within 180 days of program termination covering population impacts, economic effects on watermen, market response, and policy recommendations for program continuation or expansion to other watersheds