Don’t Let Congress Gut the Law That Keeps Dolphins and Whales Alive

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Sponsor: Free The Ocean

They survived slaughter and nets—now lawmakers want to strip their last protection and leave whales, dolphins, and sea otters to die for industry greed. We cannot stay silent while extinction is written into law.

Don’t Let Congress Gut the Law That Keeps Dolphins and Whales Alive

For over 50 years, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) has stood as a lifeline for whales, dolphins, seals, sea otters, and manatees. It stopped the slaughter. It held industries accountable. It gave struggling species room to recover.

Now, that law is under attack.

A new bill in Congress would gut the MMPA, stripping away protections that prevent whales and other marine mammals from being killed by commercial fishing, offshore drilling, and ship strikes1. This same bill blocks enforcement of speed limits meant to protect endangered Rice’s whales and North Atlantic right whales—two species hanging by a thread2.

Critical Species Are at the Breaking Point

Fewer than 100 Rice’s whales remain. Without mandatory vessel speed limits, they are left defenseless against speeding ships2. North Atlantic right whales—already reduced to just a few hundred individuals—face similar risks from shipping lanes and entanglement in fishing gear2.

The proposal doesn’t stop there. It would block NOAA from designating new critical habitats. It would reduce funding for population surveys. And it would leave enforcement agencies without the tools they need to protect marine life from deadly bycatch and offshore development1.

These Protections Work—and Lives Depend on Them

Marine mammals are not obstacles to profit. They are intelligent, social, and vital to the health of our oceans. Humpback whales help circulate nutrients that support entire food chains. Dolphins shape the behavior of fish populations. Sea otters maintain kelp forests by controlling sea urchin numbers. When we protect marine mammals, we protect the balance of ocean life—and the communities that depend on it3.

The MMPA was created to stop exactly this kind of harm. It forbids the killing, capture, or harassment of marine mammals in U.S. waters without a permit. It holds foreign fisheries to U.S. standards. It even mandates a goal of near-zero deaths from bycatch4.

Congress Has a Choice—And So Do We

To dismantle this law now, in the face of extinction, is not just short-sighted—it’s cruel.

This isn’t just about whales. It’s about what kind of world we leave behind. One where the most vulnerable species are sacrificed for short-term gain—or one where they are defended, even when it’s inconvenient.

The choice belongs to NOAA and Congress. And your voice could make the difference.

Add your name now to demand full protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Let’s make sure it keeps doing what it was meant to do: protect life.

More on this issue:

  1. John Liang, DeeperBlue (15 Jul 2024), "US Environmental Groups Slam Proposed Bill That Would Gut The Marine Mammal Protection Act."
  2. Defenders of Wildlife (15 Jul 2024), "Attacks on Critically Endangered Whales Continue in Subcommittee Spending Bill."
  3. Defenders of Wildlife (15 Jul 2024), "New Bill Would Gut Marine Mammal Protections."
  4. Animal Welfare Institute, "Marine Mammal Protection Act."

The Petition

To the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Members of the United States Congress,

We, the undersigned, call on NOAA and Congress to uphold and strengthen the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)—a cornerstone of environmental law that has safeguarded whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, sea otters, and other marine mammals for over 50 years.

The MMPA was enacted to prevent the senseless harm and killing of marine mammals caused by bycatch in commercial fishing, ship strikes, offshore oil and gas development, and other human activities. It established a zero-tolerance standard for unnecessary death and injury—an ambitious and humane benchmark that helped species rebound from the brink.

Today, that legacy is under threat.

Proposed legislation seeks to gut the MMPA, strip away critical protections, and limit enforcement capabilities. These changes would unleash devastating consequences for already endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale and Rice’s whale—animals with populations so small that even a few preventable deaths could push them into extinction.

We must remember that these marine mammals are not just resources. They are sentient, intelligent beings who play vital roles in the health of our oceans. Their survival is a reflection of our values as a society—whether we choose stewardship over exploitation, and compassion over convenience.

Conservation is not a luxury—it is a responsibility. The MMPA embodies our commitment to coexistence with the natural world. Weakening it now would betray future generations and the ecosystems they will inherit.

We urge NOAA and Congress to:

  • Maintain the MMPA’s full authority to regulate bycatch, ship speeds, and offshore industrial activities.
  • Restore funding to the Marine Mammal Commission and NOAA for research and enforcement.
  • Reject any amendments or spending riders that limit the law’s protective power.

Protecting marine mammals is not just about saving animals. It’s about preserving the balance of life in our oceans, respecting the dignity of wild creatures, and creating a more just and sustainable world.

Sincerely,

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