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Marine Mammal Protection Act
Congress enacted the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 (16 U.S.C.
1361-1407). The MMPA prohibits (with some exceptions)
 | “Taking” of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by any person under U.S.
jurisdiction on the high seas.
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| Importing marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S.
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What Does it Mean to "Take" a Marine Mammal?
“Take” is statutorily defined as “harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or
attempt to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal.
The 1994 amendments to the MMPA define harass as any act of pursuit, torment, or
annoyance that has the potential to:
| Injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock the wild (Level A); or
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| Disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by disrupting behavioral
patterns (for example, migration breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering)
(Level B). |
For more information, contact Jill
Lewandowski.
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