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—responsible for the protection of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions.
-
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—responsible for the protection of 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 |