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 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:
NOAA Fisheries has responsibilities for marine mammal populations including whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has responsibilities for walrus, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears
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 | 2022 | PDF, 4 pages |
| Process for Injury Determination Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of Marine Mammals | 2023 | PDF, 55 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports Pursuant to the 1994 Amendments to the MMPA (2023 Revision) | 2023 | PDF, 43 pages |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NMFS Standards for Rehabilitation Facilities (2022 Revision) | 2022 | PDF, 50 pages |
| Standards for Rehabilitation Facilities (2009 Original) | 2009 | PDF, 73 pages |
| Standards for Release of Marine Mammals Following Rehabilitation (2022 Revision) | 2022 | PDF, 65 pages |
| Standards for Release (2009 Original) | 2009 | PDF, 114 pages |
| Stranding Agreement and Stranding Agreement Criteria (2022 Revision) | 2022 | PDF, 93 pages |
| Evaluation Criteria and National Template for Marine Mammal Stranding Agreements (2009 Original) | 2009 | PDF, 55 pages |
| Live and Dead Large Whale Emergency Response Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 136 pages |
| Small Cetacean Intervention Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 54 pages |
| Cetacean Mass Stranding Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 65 pages |
| Marine Mammal Euthanasia Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 47 pages |
| Cetacean and Pinniped Transport Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 56 pages |
| Marine Mammal Carcass Disposal Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 33 pages |
| Dwarf and Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia Spp.) Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 30 pages |
Policies and Best Practices for Marine Mammal Entanglement Response
| Title | Date | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Large Whale Entanglement Response Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 332 pages |
| Small Cetacean Entanglement Response Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 115 pages |
| Pinniped Entanglement Response Best Practices | 2022 | PDF, 183 pages |
Implementing Regulations
| Title | Date | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals | various | 50 CFR 216 |