Blue catfish; DACS, et al., to review efforts to create a market.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;blue catfish work group; report. Directs the Department of Agricultureand Consumer Services, in collaboration with certain stakeholders,to convene a work group to evaluate strategies to reduce the negativeecological effects of blue catfish and to increase the sales andmarketing of blue catfish. The bill requires the work group to (i)review past and ongoing efforts to promote the creation of a marketfor blue catfish, (ii) identify and explore potential sectors forthe blue catfish market, and (iii) identify any actions that theCommonwealth can take to promote and expand the market for blue catfish.The bill requires the Department to report its findings and recommendationsto the Governor, the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and theChairmen of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation andNatural Resources and Finance and Appropriations and the House Committeeson Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Appropriationsby December 1, 2024.