The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026, or MAWS Act, is designed to create a pilot program aimed at facilitating the sale of blue catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This initiative seeks to support local fishermen, known as watermen, and seafood processors by establishing a structured market for blue catfish, which is recognized as an invasive species in the region. The act includes several key provisions, such as forming cooperative agreements between the Secretary of Commerce and entities that will purchase blue catfish from local watermen and processors.