Credit: Mike Baird CC-BY 2.0

It is prohibited to take and import marine mammals and their parts and products.  However, permits may be issued for the purpose of scientific research, public display, or enhancement of the species.  In addition, photography permits may be issued for educational or commercial purposes as long as the subject marine mammals are limited to harassment that only has the potential to disturb them. 

• If you are publicly displaying, performing scientific research on, or involved in the enhancement of marine mammal species under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) (sea otters, marine otters, polar bears, walrus, manatees, and dugongs), you should complete application form 3-200-43 .
• If you are participating in activities involving photography in the wild, you should complete application form 3-200-86 . 
• If you are transporting or transferring live captive-held animals within the U.S., you should complete application form 3-200-87 .
• If you are exporting or re-exporting captive-held live animals listed in CITES, you should complete application form 3-200-53 . 
• If you already have MMPA/ESA authorization (from NOAA or the Service) and need a CITES permit for the export or re-export of parts or biological samples, you should complete application form 3-200-29 .
• If you already have MMPA/ESA authorization (from NOAA or the Service) and need a CITES permit for the import of specimens from Appendix I species, you should complete application form 3-200-37 .
• If you already have MMPA/ESA authorization (from NOAA or the Service) and need a CITES permit for specimens’ introduction from the sea, you should complete application form 3-200-31 .
• For the registration of agents and tanneries for polar bear, walrus, and Alaskan sea otter, you should complete application form 3-200-44 .  Please note that this form is for the transfer or taxidermy of marine mammal specimens taken by Alaskan Natives for the purposes of subsistence or creation of authentic Native handicraft articles and clothing. 
  

Traveling to Alaska? Visit our Travel & Trade section on Alaska travel for more information on buying souvenirs and Alaskan handicrafts.

For general information on CITES permit requirements, click here .

If, after reading this information, you are unclear about the permitting process, please feel free to contact us.