DEFEND THE MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT

The landmark law that has saved whales, dolphins, sea otters, and seals for over 50 years is now in need of saving.

Congress wants to take a sledgehammer to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and push whales, dolphins, and other wildlife to the brink of extinction.

Marine mammals need us now. Reach out to your representatives TODAY and tell them to defend whales and other marine mammals from attacks in Congress — we can’t turn our backs on 50 years of conservation!

Sign the petition today to help protect whales, dolphins, otters, and other marine mammals at risk of extinction.

petition text

Dear {contact_data~salutation},

I’m writing today as your constituent to ask you to defend the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) against a new bill under consideration in the House. I don’t want to see this bill, or any portion of it, passed into law.

From their role as sports team mascots and cinematic legends to the millions of dollars spent on whale watching each year, it’s clear: Americans love marine mammals. In fact, the MMPA passed over 50 years ago with broad bipartisan support due in part to a wave of public outcry. At that time, more than 400,000 dolphins were being killed in Pacific tuna nets, and the commercial whaling industry was still slaughtering whales at an industrial scale. But since the enactment of the MMPA, no marine mammal has gone extinct in U.S. waters.

To continue this track record of success, the MMPA must be fully intact. But the proposed bill undermines three of the MMPA’s keystone principles: a broad prohibition on actions that harm marine mammals and their habitat; reducing bycatch of marine mammals in fisheries; and using science-based management to recover populations to healthy levels. Below is how this proposed bill will dismantle these keystone principles:

* Legalizes Harm: Currently, the MMPA generally makes it illegal to harass, hunt, capture, kill, or injure marine mammals, including actions that disturb and disrupt their habitat. The proposed bill, would narrow these protections and allow more activities that could harm marine mammals. It also allows activities that could cause harm to get automatic approvals if agencies don’t act fast enough – a big problem when agency budgets and staff are already being cut.

* Allows More Death: Right now, fisheries are required to reduce accidental killings of marine mammals. This helps prevent, for example, dolphin massacres like the ones that occurred before the MMPA became law. But the proposed bill significantly weakens these standards, allowing more deaths.

* Abandons Recovery: Today, agencies are required to use the best available science to maintain and recover marine mammal populations to healthy levels. This bill would downgrade the threshold from thriving to simply surviving.

We cannot let whales, dolphins, seals, and sea otters quietly lose the protections they’ve relied on for over 50 years. Marine mammals support ecosystems, bolster economies, and their plush versions live in the bedrooms of countless children. Marine mammals are beloved by Americans nationwide.

As a voter and your constituent, I am asking you to stand up for marine mammals and defend the Marine Mammal Protection Act by opposing all efforts to weaken, undermine, or degrade it. Instead, support robust funding for strengthening the implementation of this bedrock environmental law and Protect the Pod.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

YOUR INFORMATION

Email

First Name

Last Name

Address

Address 2

City

State

Postal Code

Country

Mobile Phone (Optional)

SMS Opt In

Volunteer with Oceana

Yes, I want to receive news about Oceana actions and events in my area!

This action emails your direct federal representatives and can only be completed by U.S. citizens with an address recognized by the database provided by Congress.