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
Policies, Guidance, or Regulation
| Title |
Date |
Document |
|---|
| 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
Guidelines for Assessing Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (GAMMS)
| 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 |
Negligible Impact Determinations
| Title |
Date |
Document |
|---|
| Criteria for Determining Negligible Impact under MMPA Section 101(a)(5)(E) |
2020 |
PDF, 20 pages |
Stranding Response and Marine Mammal Health
Policies and Best Practices for Marine Mammal Stranding Response, Rehabilitation, and Release
| Title |
Date |
Document |
|---|
| 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 |
North Pacific right whale #87 also known as “Smudgy” interacts with a log floating on the water. There are only around 30 individuals in the eastern population, so to spot a North Pacific right whale is rare and to see one interacting with a log in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. NOAA Fisheries permit 782-1719.
Southern Resident killer whales encountered during NOAA's PODs (Pacific Orcinus Distribution Survey) in October 2021 near the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
