Today marks the 40th Anniversary of the passing of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

 

 

The MMPA was the first act of Congress to call specifically for an ecosystem approach to natural resource management and conservation. It prohibits the taking of marine mammals, and enacts a moratorium on the import, export, and sale of any marine mammal, along with any marine mammal part or product within the United States.

 

Since the MMPA was passed in 1972, the populations of all marine mammals, like sea otters, seals, whales, manatees, and the like, have been monitored and studied frequently to ensure their lasting place on this Earth.