16 USC - Chapter 31 - Marine Mammal Protection - § 1361-1423h.

This Chapter establishes a Federal responsibility to conserve marine mammals with management vested in the Department of Interior and the Department of Commerce. With certain specified exceptions (taking for subsistence by local populations and for research), the Chapter establishes a moratorium on the taking and importation of marine mammals as well as products taken from them, and establishes procedures for waiving the moratorium and transferring management responsibility to the States. The Chapter authorises the establishment of a Marine Mammal Commission with specific advisory and research duties. Annual reports to Congress by the Departments of Interior and Commerce and the Marine Mammal Commission are required. The offshore jurisdiction of the Chapter is the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Conditions for taking of marine mammals also regard importing fish and fish products from nations engaged in harvesting yellowfin tuna with purse seines as well as other commercial fishing activities. The Chapter also concerns the preparation of conservation plans for any species listed as "depleted", including a requirement that such plans be modelled after recovery plans developed pursuant to the Endangered Species Act; powers to protect essential marine mammal habitat and trophies of endangered animals.