The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972, and was amended in 1994 and in 2007. The MMPA prohibits, with certain exceptions, the “take” of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S. “Take” is defined as to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries) manages the protection of approximately 117 species of marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions) worldwide. Sixty-two marine mammal species are found in US waters. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) protects a remaining eight worldwide marine mammal species; (walrus, polar bear, sea otter, marine otter, West African manatee, Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and dugong).