Marine Mammals

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MMPA Fact Sheet Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Photo: NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) Photo: NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis) Photo: NOAA Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) Photo: NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Photo: Janice Waite, National Marine Mammal Laboratory Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Photo: NOAA's National Marine Mammal Laboratory Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus) Photo: NOAA's National Marine Mammal Laboratory Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Photo: Southwest Fisheries Science Center Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Photo: NOAA's National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Overview
Marine mammals are mammals that are well adapted for life in the marine environment. Two major groups of marine mammals are:

1. Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
2. Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses)

All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA); some marine mammals may be designated as "depleted" under the MMPA. Endangered and threatened marine mammals are further protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Status of Marine Mammals
The table below includes marine mammals that have been designated as depleted under the MMPA, including, by default, ESA-listed marine mammals. For non-depleted marine mammals managed under the MMPA, please refer to the second list below.*

(E = "endangered"; T = "threatened"; P = "proposed"; D = "depleted"; C = "candidate"; S = "species of concern"; DL = "delisted"; F = "foreign")

Species	Status
bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)	C
beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
Cook Inlet	P/S/D
blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)	E/D
bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Western North Atlantic coastal	D
bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)	E/D
Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis)	E/D
Chinese river dolphin / baiji (Lipotes vexillifer)	E/D (F)
fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)	E/D
gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Western North Pacific	E/D
Eastern North Pacific	DL
Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi)	T/D (F)
Gulf of California harbor porpoise / vaquita  (Phocoena sinus)	E/D (F)
Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi)	E/D
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)	E/D
Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor)	E/D (F)
killer whale (Orcinus orca)
Southern Resident	E/D
AT1 transient	D
Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)	E/D (F)
Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus)
Pribilof Island/Eastern Pacific	D
North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)	E/D
North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica)	E/D
ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata)	C
ringed seal (Phoca hispida)	C
Saimaa seal (Phoca hispida saimensis)	E/D (F)
spotted seal (Phoca largha)	C
sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)	E/D
Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis)	E/D (F)
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)	E/D
spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
Eastern	D
spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata)
Northeastern Offshore	D
Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Western U.S. original listing -	E/D T/D
Eastern U.S.	T/D

Non-Depleted/Non-Candidate Marine Mammals (MMPA)

Beaked Whales Bryde's Whale Clymene Dolphin Common Dolphins Long-Beaked Common Dolphin Short-Beaked Common Dolphin Dall's Porpoise Dwarf Sperm Whale False Killer Whale Fraser's Dolphin Gray Seal Harbor Porpoise Harbor Seal Harp Seal Hooded Seal Melon-Headed Whale Minke Whale Northern Bottlenose Whale Northern Elephant Seal Northern Right Whale Dolphin

Pilot Whales Long-Finned Pilot Whale Short-Finned Pilot Whale Pygmy Killer Whale Pygmy Sperm Whale Risso's Dolphin Rough-Toothed Dolphin Sea Lion, California Spinner Dolphin Spotted Dolphins Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Striped Dolphin White-Beaked Dolphin White-Sided Dolphins Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin Pacific White-Sided Dolphin

Marine Mammal Conservation
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources works in collaboration with NMFS' Regional Offices, Science Centers, and partners to develop and implement a variety of programs for the protection, conservation, and recovery of the approximately 160 marine mammal stocks listed under the MMPA, including:

• Developing and implementing Conservation Plans for species designated as depleted
• Establishing cooperative agreements with states and Alaska Natives regarding marine mammal resources
• Identifying important research needs to collect appropriate information for management decisions
• Managing the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
• Administering the national program for display of captive whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions
• Coordinating with the USFWS on issues concerning the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 
• Administering various authorizations and permits

More Info

• Conservation Plans
• Health and Stranding Response Program
  • John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program
• Marine Mammal-Commercial Fisheries Interactions Program
• Ocean Acoustics Program
• Permits and Authorizations for Marine Mammals
• Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing
• Right Whale Mandatory Ship Reporting System
• Stock Assessment Reports (SARs)
• Take Reduction Planning
• Tuna-Dolphin Program / Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP)

*Note: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implements programs and regulations for manatees, polar bears, sea otters, and walruses.