Marine Mammal Inventory

What is the Marine Mammal Inventory?

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» Marine Mammal Inventory

» Non-Releasable Marine Mammals

» Permits for Public Display

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This dolphin is listed in the inventory as a non-releasable stranded animal. He was rescued as a young calf and without his mother could not be released to the wild. He was placed at the Indianapolis Zoo.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Skidmore



There are over 400 California sea lions currently being held in U.S. facilities according to the national marine mammal inventory. This one is at the Indianapolis Zoo.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Skidmore

An inventory of all marine mammals held in permanent captivity under NOAA Fisheries' jurisdiction. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires NOAA Fisheries to maintain this inventory. The inventory includes all whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions held for:

• public display
• scientific research
• enhancement
• national defense purposes

What information must be reported?

The MMPA requires holders of marine mammals to report the following information to NOAA Fisheries:

• Acquisitions
  • births
  • wild captures
  • imports
• Dispositions
  • deaths
  • escapes
  • releases
• Transfers/Transports
  • transfer of custody
  • transport to other facilities, including exports

When do I need to report inventory changes? 

• Acquisitions – within 30 days of the event
• Dispositions – within 30 days of the event
• Notifications of Transfer and/or Transport – 15 days before the date of transfer/transport
  • You have up to 60 days to complete the transfer/transport after the notification
• Verifications of Transfer and/or Transport – within 30 days of the event

How do I report inventory changes?

The following forms are available for use by marine mammal holders to update the marine mammal inventory:

• Person/Holder/Facility (PHF) Sheet 
  • to make institution changes, including designating a responsible party and a primary contact.
    
• Marine Mammal Data Sheet (MMDS) 
  • to report new animals into your collection (use a blank form). 
  • to provide changes for a specific animal (use an animal’s specific MMDS--you can request a specific animal’s MMDS by contacting our office (see below).
    
• Marine Mammal Transfer/Transport Notification (MMTTN) Form
  • to notify NOAA Fisheries of any transport, export, sale, or other transfer of custody of a marine mammal.  You will get a letter back with instructions to verify the transfer/transport once it occurs.

How do I review my inventory data?

Marine mammal holders may request holder/ facility-specific information, including animal-specific data sheets, by contacting the NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources:

• Phone:
  301-427-8401
• Fax:
  301-713-0376
• Mail:
  Permits and Conservation Division
  Office of Protected Resources
  NOAA Fisheries
  1315 East-West Highway, Suite 13705
  Silver Spring, MD 20910

Can anyone request information from the inventory?

Yes, anyone may request information from the National Marine Mammal Inventory database under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  At this time, inventory reports are not available online and must be printed and sent via mail.  Contact NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources at the phone/fax numbers or mailing address above. 

When submitting a request, you should consider the following questions to narrow your request and eliminate surplus data from being sent to you:

• Would you like the data arranged by holder (legal custody) or facility (physical location)?
• Do you need information on:
  • U.S. or non-U.S. facilities or both?
  • a particular entity or group of entities?
  • facilities that are active, inactive, or both?
  • just cetaceans, just pinnipeds, both or just particular species?
  • all animals, or just those that are currently alive or deceased?
  • particular source codes (i.e. wild caught, captive born, imported)?
  • transfer/transport histories on the animals?