86 STAT. ]
PUBLIC LAW 92-522-OCT. 21, 1972
1027
Public Law 92-522 AN ACT
October 21, 1972
To protect marine m a m m a l s; to establish a Marine Mammal Commission; and for other purposes.
[ H. R. IO420]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act, with P rMarineo n Act of ^^^^^c t i Mammal ote the following table of contents, may be cited as the "Marine Mammal fgya Protection Act of 1972". TABLE O F CONTENTS Sec. 2. Findings and declaration of policy. Sec. 3. Definitions. Sec. 4. Effective date. TITLE I—CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF M A R I N E M A M M A L S
Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec.
101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110111. 112. 113. 114.
Moratorium and exceptions. Prohibitions. Regulations on taking of marine mammals. Permits. Penalties. Vessel fine, cargo forfeiture, and rewards. Enforcement. International program. Federal cooperation with States. Marine mammal research grants. Commercial fisheries gear development. Regulations and administration. Application to other treaties and conventions; repeal. Authorization of appropriations. TITLE II — M A R I N E M A M M A L COMMISSION
Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec.
201. 202. 203. 204. 205. 206. 207.
Establishment of Commission. Duties of Commission. Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. Commission reports. Coordination with other Federal agencies. Administration of Commission. Authorization of appropriations. F I N D I N G S A N D DECLARATION
OF P O L I C Y
SEC. 2. The Congress finds that— (1) certain species and population stocks of marine mammals are, or may be, in danger of extinction or depletion as a result of man's activities; (2) such species and population stocks should not be permitted to diminish beyond the point at which they cease to be a significant functioning element in the ecosystem of which they are a part, and, consistent with this major objective, they should not be permitted to diminish below their optimum sustainable population. Further measures should be immediately taken to replenish any species or population stock which has already diminished below that population. I n particular, efforts should be made to protect the rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance for each species of marine mammal from the adverse effect of man's actions; (3) there is inadequate knowledge of the ecology and population dynamics of such marine mammals and of the factors which bear upon their ability to reproduce themselves successfully; (4) negotiations should be undertaken immediately to encourage the development of international arrangements for research on, and conservation of, all marine mammals; (5) marine mammals and marine mammal products either— (A) move in interstate commerce, or
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