Marine mammals are mammals that rely on the ocean to survive. They include whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, walruses, polar bears, sea otters, manatees, and dugongs. Some are fully aquatic, such as whales and dolphins. Others, such as seals and sea lions, spend most of their time in water but return to land or ice for activities such as resting or giving birth. Marine mammals are vital to the balance of marine ecosystems and are key indicators of the overall health of the ocean.

All marine mammals are protectedunder theMarine Mammal Protection Act. Some are also protected under theEndangered Species Act and theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 

With some exceptions, the MMPA prohibits the “take” of marine mammals—including harassment, hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing—in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas. The act also makes it illegal to import marine mammals and marine mammal products into the United States without a permit. 

Learn more about the MMPA 

Our Work Under the MMPA

Our work to protect and conserve marine mammal species includes:

• Managing the take of marine mammals throughpermits and authorizations (sections 101 and 104 of the MMPA).
• Investigating and prosecuting violations of the MMPA (section 107). 
• Partnering with other nations tomake sure they hold international fishing to our standards according to the MMPA (section 108). 
• Evaluating the status of marine mammals to determine whether they should be designated as depleted anddeveloping conservation plans for depleted species or stocks (section 115).
• Developing stock assessment reports—with scientific information on a species' or stock’s geographic range, population structure, abundance, and threats—to evaluate stock status (section 117). 
• Managing incidental marine mammal interactions with commercial fisheries through authorization and reporting, by assessing the level ofmortality and injury in commercial fisheries, and by developingtake reduction plans (section 118).
• Collaborating with Alaska Native organizations to conserve marine mammal populations in Alaska (section 119). 
• Coordinating a national network to respond to marine mammal strandings (section 403). 
• Investigating and responding tomarine mammal unusual mortality events (section 404).

All marine mammals are protected under the MMPA

3 federal agencies are charged with administering the MMPA

Multimedia

NOAA Fisheries Video Gallery

A gray whale and her calf migrate north along the California coast on their way to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists are using an unmanned aerial vehicle to produce very precise overhead images of gray whales, then analyzing the images to understand how environmental conditions affect the health of adult females and ultimately the reproductive success of the population. Credit: NOAA

Podcast

Gray Whales on the Rebound: Signs of Hope Despite Challenges

West Coast

Researchers retrieve a passive acoustic recorder. Courtesy: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Video

Listening for Whales: Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring to Track North Atlantic Right Whales

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

A Bryde’s whale photographed in the Mariana Archipelago. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Adam Ü (NOAA Fisheries MMPA-ESA Permit #14097)

Podcast

AI Identifies Mysterious Whale Calls

Pacific Islands

Three federal agencies share responsibility for the protection and conservation of marine mammals.

• NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the management of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions.
• TheU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for polar bears, walruses, sea otters, manatees, and dugongs.
• TheMarine Mammal Commission provides independent, science-based oversight of federal agencies’ policies and actions addressing human impacts on marine mammals and their ecosystems.

Marine Mammal Protection and Take Prohibitions

We are responsible for managing the taking of marine mammals throughpermits and authorizations. TheMarine Mammal Protection Act generally prohibits the “take” of marine mammals—including harassment, hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing—in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas. The act makes some exceptions, though:

• Permitted incidental take (e.g., unintentional take) in the commercial fishing industry, managed through theMarine Mammal Authorization Program
• Authorized incidental take during non-fishing activities including oil and gas development, military readiness activities, renewable energy projects, construction projects, and research
• Permitted directed take and import for scientific research, enhancement, commercial or educational photography, and public display
• Permitted import, export, and receipt of parts for scientific research. 
• Pre-act determinations for marine mammal parts taken before December 21, 1972

The prohibition generally does not apply to Alaska natives who live on the Alaskan coast. TheMMPA contains provisions allowing for take for subsistence use, or to create and sell handicrafts and clothing without permits or authorizations.

Conservation Plans for Depleted Species

We are responsible for developing and implementing conservation plans for marine mammal species that are designated as "depleted".Species or populations are considered depleted if they are below their optimum sustainable population level, or are listed as endangered or threatened under theEndangered Species Act.

Learn more about the conservation and management of depleted species

Commercial Fishing Interactions

Fisheries bycatch is the greatest direct cause of marine mammal injury and death. NOAA Fisheries is engaged in many conservation and management actions to reduce the death or injury of marine mammals from commercial fishing operations.

Marine Mammal Authorization Program

NOAA Fisheries implements the Marine Mammal Authorization Program, which provides exemptions to certain commercial fisheries for the accidental injury or death of marine mammals during fishing operations. The MMPA mandates that each fishery be categorized according to how common these deaths or injuries are there: frequent, occasional, or only remotely likely. This information is published annually in the “list of fisheries.” A vessel owner or operator (or a fisherman working without a vessel) who works in certain categories on the list must register with the Marine Mammal Authorization Program. The program also requires that any death or injury of a marine mammal during commercial fishing operations must be reported to NOAA Fisheries.

View our List of Fisheries

Learn more about the Marine Mammal Authorization Program

Proposed guidelines for safely deterring marine mammals

Take Reduction Planning

NOAA Fisheries develops and implements take reduction plans to minimize bycatch ofstrategic marine mammal stocks. Each plan is designed to minimize serious injuries and deaths through a combination of voluntary and regulatory measures.

Learn more about the Marine Mammal Take Reduction Program

Fishing Gear Modification

To reduce marine mammal bycatch, NOAA Fisheries works with the fishing industry to modify fishing gear and fishing practices. Fishermen andfishery observers report marine mammals’ interactions with fishing gear. Scientists and managers then work with fishermen and gear designers to find ways to reduce marine mammal injury and mortality.

Learn more about fishing gear and risks to protected species

Learn more about the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program

International Fishing Operations

We are also working to reduce marine mammal bycatch associated with international commercial fishing by holding nations exporting fish and fish products to the United States to the same standards as U.S. commercial fishing operations. Nations wishing to export fish and fish products to the United States have until 2022 to meet similar marine mammal protection standards to those in place for U.S. fisheries.

Learn more about seafood import requirements

Learn more about Dolphin Safe Tuna (Tuna Tracking and Verification Program)

Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response

NOAA Fisheries coordinates the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, which workswith trained partners in every coastal state to respond to reports of animals in distress and assess their condition when they are found sick, injured, or dead. Data are collected for inclusion in a national database, contributing to our understanding of marine mammal communities and helping us monitor the health of their populations.

The program has the following components:

• Volunteer stranding response networks managed through anational coordinator and regional coordinators
• Investigations ofunusual mortality events
• Collection and cryogenicstorage of marine mammal tissue collected during strandings
• Biomonitoring
• Analytical quality assurance

Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program

Learn more about our stranding network partners

Preventing Harassment

Feeding or closely interacting with wild animals changes their behavior and puts them at risk. Under the MMPA,it is illegal to feed, attempt to feed, or otherwise harass marine mammals in the wild. There are many ways toview marine mammals responsibly and enjoy their natural behaviors—we have developed regulations and guidelines with specific recommendations and distances for viewing whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and other marine animals. Ourlaw enforcement officers work with the U.S. Coast Guard and state natural resource enforcement agencies to ensure compliance and take action when these laws are broken.

Learn more about why it's illegal to feed or harass marine mammals in the wild

Science is critical to understanding the needs and status of marine mammal populations, as well as the threats to their health and well-being. NOAA Fisheries pursues a scientific understanding of these topics because it is essential to conservation efforts. Examples of our work include assessing and monitoring marine mammal stocks, researching disease agents (e.g., pathogens, parasites, and harmful algal blooms), and developing gear modifications to reduce entanglement and bycatch.

Stock Assessments

TheMarine Mammal Protection Act defines a marine mammal stock as a group of individuals “of the same species or smaller taxa in a common spatial arrangement that interbreed when mature.” Assessing stocks gives us valuable information on marine mammal population trends, productivity rates, estimates of human-caused mortality and other sources of serious injury, and more. It allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and recovery measures, and to adjust management approaches as needed.

Stock assessment reports for all marine mammals in U.S. waters were first required when the MMPA was amended in 1994. Since that time, all stocks have been reviewed at least every three years or as new information becomes available. Stocks that aredesignated as strategic  are reviewed annually. Each draft stock assessment report is peer-reviewed by one of three regionalScientific Review Groups and revised and published after a public comment period.

Data collection, analysis, and interpretation are conducted through marine mammal research programs at each of ourFisheries Science Centers and by other researchers.

Learn more about marine mammal stock assessments

Find the most recent stock assessment reports

Field Surveys

Ship-based and aerial surveys are critical to achieving our marine mammal population assessment goals, which include estimating abundance and examining trends and human impacts relative to management objectives. Ourscience centers conduct and manage a limited number of marine mammal surveys each year, often with external collaborators. The number of surveys depends on funding and available ship time and flight time.

Learn more about our surveys

Ocean Acoustics

The efficiency of sound travel under water has led to increasing concern over how artificial sound potentially impacts the underwater environment. Our scientists support and conduct research to examine these potential impacts on marine animals and to increase understanding of:

• How marine animals use sound
• How underwater acoustics can be used to assess marine animal populations
• How and to what degree human activities are changing the underwater soundscape
• How these changes may potentially impact marine animals in their acoustic habitat
• What measures can be taken to mitigate potential impacts

Learn more about ocean acoustics

Climate and Ecosystem Science

Understanding climate change impacts on living marine resource distribution and occurrence patterns is a high priority for NOAA Fisheries. We know relatively little about the effects of global and regional climate dynamics on species distribution, abundance, and prey availability. The Arctic in particular is a window to changing climate patterns and a suitable biological laboratory to observe and record the impacts of receding sea ice, warming sea surface temperatures, and variable energy flow. These impacts all affect key marine ecosystem functions and native tribal communities that depend on Arctic resources for their livelihood and sustenance.

Learn more about climate-related changes in ocean ecosystems

Bycatch Reduction

Reducing bycatch of protected species can improve the recovery of marine mammals. Together with the fishing industry, we work to minimize bycatch by developing technological solutions and changes in fishing practices. These include gear modifications, avoidance programs, and/or improved fishing practices in commercial and recreational fisheries.

Learn more about the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program

Marine Mammal Health and Strandings

Marine mammal health is a key indicator of the overall health of our oceans. We and ourstranding network partners perform vital research into causes of death and emerging diseases in marine mammals. This enables biologists to monitor the health of species populations and identify threats. They perform necropsies on freshly dead animals whenever possible. Blood serum, blubber, and tissue tests can provide information on contaminant loads and pathogens. During examinations, biologists also look for clues such as evidence of blunt force trauma (which can be an indicator of ship strikes) or signs of entanglement and fishery interactions. Data from stranding events are collected in a national database, and the information is used to increase our understanding of marine mammal communities and to monitor the health of their populations.

Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program

Photo-Identification Surveys

Marine mammals can often be identified by markings such as blemishes, fin nicks and notches, and scars. Several research programs rely on these markings—visible in images obtained during photo-identification surveys—to distinguish and catalog individual animals.

Learn more about the FinBase photo-identification database system

Economics Research

Species valuation studies enable us to assess the national benefits derived from protected species including marine mammals such as whales, porpoises, and sea lions. Protecting a species throughlaws and policies implies that society considers these species to be valuable. Economics can be used to assess the value that people have for preserving a species for future generations regardless of whether they ever view the species or not.

Learn more about protected species economics research

Advanced Technologies

Learn aboutother advanced technologies used by our scientists—including drones, satellite tagging and tracking, and genetic research—to study marine mammals and other ocean animals.

Conservation groups; academia; tribal nations; and federal, state, and local governments all make important contributions to the protection and conservation of marine mammals. We collaborate with these organizations to minimize harmful effects on marine mammals and work toward their recovery. Together, we and our partners develop and implement conservation strategies, review and make recommendations on activities to help reduce harm to marine mammals, and provide grants to support marine mammal stranding response around the country.  Some of our key partners in protecting marine mammals include:

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Marine Mammal Commission 
• U.S. Coast Guard (PDF, 12 pages)
• International Whaling Commission

Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Every year there are thousands of reports of stranded marine mammals throughout the United States. We rely on a national network of stranding responders to respond to these events, investigate, and collect valuable data.Stranding networks have been established in every coastal state and are largely volunteer. Through anational coordinator and five regional coordinators, NOAA Fisheries oversees, coordinates, and authorizes these activities and trains personnel.

Public contributions help fund some of our network partners, and some receive program funds from parent agencies or organizations. As network participants, they are eligible to compete for federal funds through thePrescott grant program to support special studies or supplement basic operations.

Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program

Co-Management with Alaska Native Organizations

Co-management involves collaboration between the federal government and Alaska Native organizations to conserve marine mammal populations in Alaska.

Co-management efforts have integrated the field skills and traditional/indigenous knowledge of Alaska Native hunters with the scientific and technological expertise of NOAA scientists to better our understanding of marine mammals: their stock structure, status, trends, movement and habitat-use patterns, responses to climate change, animal health and condition, contaminants, and disease. Sampling of Native-harvested animals for scientific purposes (biosampling) has provided tissues for a variety of studies. Education and outreach efforts have trained hunters in good hunting practices and biosampling, and familiarized Alaska Native youth with cultural and subsistence traditions. Such efforts contribute significantly to marine mammal conservation and the maintenance of subsistence cultures.

Learn more about the co-management of marine mammals in Alaska

Documents

Data & Maps

Research

Outreach & Education