|
|
| |
|
1951
|
Fish and Wildlife Service Director Albert Day
announced an expanded program of enforcement and
management for the protection of migratory waterfowl,
transferring the personnel and funds of the Section
of Waterfowl Management Investigations to the Branch
of Game Management.
|
|
1956
|
The Fish and Wildlife Service was reorganized
into the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
consisting of a Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
and a Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. Wildlife
law enforcement responsibilities were placed in
the Branch of Management and Enforcement of the
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.
|
|
1960
|
Following an investigation that revealed large-scale
market-hunting of waterfowl, the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act was amended to include felony provisions
for commercial activities - a $2,000 fine or two
years imprisonment, or both.
|
|
1962
|
The Bald Eagle Protection Act became the Bald
and Golden Eagle Protection Act and extended protection
to golden eagles.
|
|
1970
|
The Endangered Species Conservation
Act of 1969 became effective, prohibiting the importation
into the United States of species "threatened with
extinction worldwide," except as specifically allowed
for zoological and scientific purposes, and propagation
in captivity. The Act amended the Black Bass
Act to prohibit interstate and foreign commerce in
fish taken in violation of foreign law, a provision
that had been added to the Lacey Act for wildlife. It
also amended the Lacey Act so that its prohibition
on interstate and foreign commerce applied not only
to wild birds and mammals, but to reptiles, mollusks,
amphibians, and crustaceans. This amendment
was made in an effort aimed primarily at protecting
the American alligator. The Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries was transferred to the Department of Commerce
and became the National Marine Fisheries Service. |
|
1971
|
The Airborne Hunting Act was signed into law,
prohibiting the use of aircraft to hunt or harass
wildlife.
|
|
1972
|
The United States signed the Migratory
Bird Treaty with Japan. The Migratory Bird Treaty
with Mexico was amended to protect additional species,
including birds of prey. The Marine Mammal Protection
Act of 1972 became law, establishing a moratorium
on the taking and importing of marine mammals, such
as polar bears, sea otters, dugongs, walrus, manatees,
whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. The Eagle
Protection Act was amended to increase penalties from
$500 or six months imprisonment to $5,000 or one year,
and to add the provision that a second conviction
was punishable by a $10,000 fine or two years imprisonment,
or both. In addition, the amendment allowed for informants
to be rewarded with half of the fine, not to exceed
$2,500. In September 1972, the Division of Management
and Enforcement was reorganized. Waterfowl management
responsibilities were transferred to the Office of
Migratory Bird Management and the Division of Management
and Enforcement became the Division of Law Enforcement. |
|
1973
|
The Endangered Species Act of 1973
became law, recognizing that "endangered species of
wildlife and plants are of aesthetic, ecological,
educational, historical, recreational, and scientific
value to the Nation and its people. The Act expanded
the scope of prohibited activities to include not
only importation, but also exportation, take, possession,
and other activities involving illegally taken species,
and interstate or foreign commercial activities. It
implemented protection for a new "threatened" category
- species likely to become in danger of extinction.
The field organization of the Division of Law Enforcement
was restructured into 13 law enforcement districts,
and selection for the first Special Agents in Charge
and Assistant Special Agents in Charge under this
organization was announced on February 21, 1974. |
|
1975
|
The Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
went into effect, regulating the importation, exportation,
and re-exportation of species listed on its three
appendices.
The first biological technician was hired in New York
City to inspect wildlife shipments. |
|
Historical Developement of Wildlife Law Enforcement
in the United States Continued:
|
|
|
|
|
