Overview of the Office of Protected Resources' Marine Mammal Program

The NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is charged with the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Fur Seal Act (FSA) with respect to marine mammal species under NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction- whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. As part of the MMPA mandate, OPR works in collaboration with the NOAA Fisheries Regions and Fisheries Science Centers to develop and implement a variety of programs for the protection, conservation, and recovery of marine mammals (see below). OPR also establishes cooperative agreements with states and Alaska Natives regarding marine mammal resources, identifies important research needs to collect appropriate information for management decisions, and administers the activities of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.  

In addition, OPR serves as the principal liaison for NOAA Fisheries with the Marine Mammal Commission, environmental organizations, industry, other Federal and state agencies (including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), the academic community, public display institutions, and environmental and animal welfare organizations to meet its mandates under the MMPA. In addition to the links below to important OPR marine mammal programs, the office also administers the national program for display of captive whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, coordinates with the USFWS on issues concerning the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and administers various exemptions to the "take" prohibition under the MMPA for the activities below.

• scientific research
• enhancing the survival or recovery of a marine mammal species or stock
• commercial and educational photography
• first-time import for public display
• capture of wild marine mammals for public display
• incidental take during commercial fishery activities
• incidental take during non-fishery activities

Example OPR Marine Mammal Conservation Programs

• NOAA Fisheries Participates in Seal Days at the National Zoo
• U.S. Commercial Fishery Interactions (annual List of Fisheries, Take Reduction Plans, and incidental take of marine mammals during fishery activities)
  • Zero Mortality Rate Goal Proposed Rule
  • Dolphin/Tuna Fishery Interactions in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
  • Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan
• Permits and Authorizations (scientific research, enhancement, import/export of marine mammal parts, public display and commercial/educational photography)
  • Small Take Authorizations for Non-Fishery Activities
• Acoustics Program
• Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing
  • NOAA Fisheries Policy on Human Interactions With Wild Marine Mammals
  • NOAA Fisheries Viewing Regional Guidelines and Regulations
  • Protect Dolphins Campaign
• Health and Stranding Response Program
  • John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program
• Right Whale Mandatory Ship Reporting System
• Comments on Zero Mortality Rate ANPR

Species Information

• Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise)
• Pinnipeds (Seals and Sea Lions)
• Species Legal Status (species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA or depleted under the MMPA)

Marine Mammal Protection Act Information

• Species Legal Status (species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA or depleted under the MMPA)
• Marine Mammal Protection Act
  • Reauthorization of the MMPA
  • 30th Anniversary of the MMPA
• Endangered Species Act
• Fur Seal Act

Updates and Publications

• Bowhead Whale Final Environmental Assessment
• Stock Assessment Reports
• MMPA Annual Report to Congress
• MMPA Bulletin
• OPR's Reports and Publications Webpage

Note: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) implements programs and regulations for remaining marine mammal species- walruses, polar bears, sea otters, and manatees.