Gerry Studds: “over two decades ago--in response to public concern about the future survival of whales and dolphins--Congress enacted a…”

“over two decades ago--in response to public concern about the future survival of whales and dolphins--Congress enacted a moratorium on the killing of marine mammals in the Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1972 [MMPA]. Its purpose was simple: To protect and conserve this Nation's marine mammals. At that time, tens of thousands of dolphins, whales, otters, and other warm-blooded marine creatures were being killed--some intentionally, others incidentally, during fishing operations. Back then, our goal was not only to ensure that stocks of marine mammals did not become depleted, but to help them to recover to optimum sustainable populations. Congress also recognized that some fishermen will, in the course of their operations, inadvertently take marine mammals; that researchers needed to study them; and that aquariums would be empty unless they could take a few of these creatures from the wild. Consequently, the MMPA provided for certain exemptions from the moratorium. In the 24 years that the MMPA has been on the books, hundreds of thousands of marine mammals have been saved. Certain stocks, like the grey whale, have been saved from extinction. Other marine mammals, like California sea lions and harbor seals, are flourishing. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and the protections of the law, some marine mammal stocks continue to be in trouble.”