Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Announce $1 Million to Boost Invasive Blue Catfish Processing

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) announced $1 million for BSA Seafood LLC. in Caroline County, Maryland, to process invasive blue catfish harvested from the Chesapeake Bay. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), an initiative that Senator Van Hollen created through the American Rescue Plan in 2021. Senator Van Hollen and Team Maryland later worked to fund the program through appropriations legislation and ensure that the Department prioritized Maryland seafood businesses that process blue catfish in administering this funding.

"Invasive blue catfish are one of the biggest threats to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and those who count on the Bay for their livelihoods, which is why I've been working for years to provide federal resources to tackle this challenge. This $1 million investment is an example of those resources being put to use where they are needed most - here in Maryland - supporting our watermen in harvesting blue catfish and helping our local seafood companies to get it onto Americans' dinner tables. This will bolster our efforts to eat our way through this problem, while supporting local business and strengthening the Bay we all cherish - a true win-win," said Senator Van Hollen.

"I have vowed to do everything I can to protect our Chesapeake Bay - the heart of Maryland. The Bay fuels Maryland's economy, generates tourism, and provides wildlife habitat. Invasive, wild-caught catfish are creating a significant threat to the Bay and causing ecological damage. I am glad to see we are investing federal dollars into solving this issue and look forward to eliminating the threats caused by this invasive species once and for all," said Senator Alsobrooks.

Through the American Rescue Plan, Senator Van Hollen worked to create the MPPEP under the USDA, to help small food processors expand their capacity and address processing challenges that increased the cost of getting products to market. He also fought to fund the program at $3 million through the fiscal year 2024 agriculture appropriations bill - which was then extended at an additional $3 million in the fiscal year 2025 funding bill - and directed USDA to prioritize proposals that support the processing of invasive wild-caught catfish as they implemented the MPPEP. Additionally, he secured language in the fiscal year 2024 agriculture appropriations bill directing the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to work with wild-caught catfish processors to become approved providers for AMS purchases, resulting in USDA's commitment today to purchase $2 million of blue catfish.