A bill to improve the operation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and for other purposes.

Summary

Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to revise procedures regarding the taking of marine mammals. Repeals that section of the Act concerning "optimum carrying capacity." Redefines "depletion" and "depleted" for purposes of the Act. Exempts pure seine tuna fishing from the zero-mortality goal. Requires, in lieu of such zero-mortality goal, continuation of the best marine mammal safety techniques for tuna fishing that are economically and technologically practicable. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (or the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating) to transfer management authority for a species of marine mammal to a State if the Secretary finds that the State will implement a program for the conservation and management of the species that: (1) is consistent with the purposes and goals of the Act and with treaty obligations; (2) requires that all taking of the species be humane; (3) does not permit the taking of the species unless the State has determined that the species is at its optimum sustainable population; (4) does not permit the State to regulate the taking of the species for scientific research and public display purposes; (5) provides procedures for acquiring data relating to the optimum sustainable population of the species and the maximum take that would maintain the species at that level; and (6) provides for the submission of an annual report to the Secretary. Requires specified standards, including public hearings, for the development of a State program. Provides special rules for the development of a program by the State of Alaska. Authorizes the Secretary to revoke, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, any transfer of management authority to a State if the Secretary finds the State program is implemented in a manner inconsistent with in this Act. Allows for the voluntary return of management authority from a State to the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretaries to make grants to the States of 50 percent of the cost of developing and administering management programs. Authorizes the Secretaries to make grants to Federal or State agencies and public or private institutions for research into new methods of locating and catching yellow-fin tuna without the incidental taking of marine mammals. Authorizes appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Interior and the Marine Mammal Commission for fiscal years 1983 and 1984 for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act.

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Documents

4 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 10 October 1981

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 21 September 1981

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 16 September 1981

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 9 July 1981

  Open at official source

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