Last week, Congressman Andy Harris issued a statement supporting Maryland blue catfish processors who have raised concerns about the proposed Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act. The legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth and co-led by Congressman Robert Wittman.
A coalition of small, family-owned seafood processors recently sent a letter warning that the bill could undermine years of efforts to develop a commercial market for wild-caught Blue Catfish. The coalition represents every processor of wild-caught blue catfish in the state of Maryland. These companies operate some of the only facilities in the state processing blue catfish for grocery stores, restaurants and other seafood markets. According to the coalition, the legislation could redirect blue catfish away from seafood markets towards uses such as pet food and other by-products.
In his statement, Congressman Harris said:
“Seafood processors on the Eastern Shore have spent years developing commercial markets for wild-caught blue catfish. Their work helps remove an invasive species from the Chesapeake Bay while supporting watermen, seafood businesses, and local jobs. I was proud to champion an effort that created a new grant programme through the United States Department of Agriculture to support their navigation of a cumbersome federal regulatory process by expanding specialised processing facilities for this wild-caught catfish – the first grant awards just being announced in recent weeks.
“Now is not the time to undercut the great work of these small businesses and existing investments made by the taxpayers by subsidising the purchase of product suitable for human consumption for the sole benefit of pet-food companies – especially when these processors are already selling fish by-products unsuitable for human consumption for the purposes of conversion into pet food. While the MAWS Act may be a well-intentioned proposal to combat the blue-catfish crisis, I cannot support it. I stand with the small business owners raising these concerns and will continue fighting to protect the market they’ve worked so hard to create.”
