Marine Mammal Protection Act Policies, Guidance, and Regulations
The Marine Mammal Protection Act enacted in 1972 established a national policy to prevent marine mammals from declining beyond the point where they ceased to be significant function elements of the ecosystems of which they are a part.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted on October 21, 1972. The MMPA established a national policy to prevent marine mammal species and population stocks from declining beyond the point where they ceased to be significant functioning elements of the ecosystems of which they are a part.
Three federal entities share responsibility for implementing the MMPA:
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NOAA Fisheries—responsible for the protection of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions.
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—responsible for the protection of walrus, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears.
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Marine Mammal Commission—provides independent, science-based oversight of domestic and international policies and actions of federal agencies addressing human impacts on marine mammals and their ecosystems.
The following is a list of the policies, guidance, and regulations we use to administer the MMPA.
Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of Marine Mammals
Title | Date | Document |
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Policy for Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of Marine Mammals | 2014 | PDF, 4 pages |
Process for Injury Determination Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of Marine Mammals | 2014 | PDF, 42 pages |
Notice of Availability of National Policy | 2012 | 77 FR 3233 |
Responses to Public Comments on Draft Policy | 2012 | PDF, 52 pages |
Report of the Serious Injury Technical Workshop 10-13 September 2007, Seattle, Washington (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS-OPR-39) | 2008 | PDF, 108 pages |
Differentiating serious and non-serious injury of marine mammals taken incidental to commercial fishing operations report of the serious injury workshop, 1-2 April 1997, Silver Spring, Maryland (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS-OPR-13) | 1998 | PDF, 53 pages |
Stock Assessment Reports
Title | Date | Document |
---|---|---|
Reviewing and Designating Stocks and Issuing Stock Assessment Reports under the Marine Mammal Protection Act | 2019 | PDF, 9 pages |
Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports Pursuant to the 1994 Amendments to the MMPA (2016 Revision, GAMMS III) | 2016 | PDF, 24 pages |
Guidelines for Assessing Marine Mammal Stocks: Report of the GAMMS III Workshop, February 15-18, 2011, La Jolla, California (NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-OPR-47) |
2011 | PDF, 107 pages |
Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports Pursuant to the 1994 Amendments to the MMPA (2005 Revision, GAMMS II) | 2005 | PDF, 25 pages |
Guidelines for assessing marine mammal stocks : report of the GAMMS Workshop, April 3-5, 1996, Seattle, Washington (NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-OPR-12) | 1997 | PDF, 97 pages |
U.S. Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: Guidelines for Preparation, Background, and a Summary of the 1995 Assessments (NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-OPR-6) | 1995 | PDF, 80 pages |
Stranding Response and Marine Mammal Health
Title | Date | Document |
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Evaluation Criteria and National Template for Marine Mammal Stranding Agreements | 2009 | PDF, 55 pages |
Standards for Rehabilitation Facilities | 2009 | PDF, 73 pages |
Standards for Release | 2009 | PDF, 114 pages |
Disentanglement Guidelines | 2009 | PDF, 6 pages |
Glossary of Best Practices for Marine Mammal Response, Rehabilitation, and Release | 2009 | PDF, 6 pages |
Implementing Regulations
Title | Date | Document |
---|---|---|
Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals | various | 50 CFR 216 |