Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF MARINE MAMMALS › § 1374
The Secretary can give permits to take or bring in marine mammals. Permits must follow the Secretary’s rules and say how many and what kind of animals, where and in what humane way they may be taken or imported, how long the permit lasts, and any other conditions. Permits for research, public display, or helping a species recover must also spell out capture, care, supervision, and transport methods, and the permit holder must send the Secretary a report of what they did. Public display permits go only to organizations that run education or conservation programs, are licensed under 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq., and keep public display facilities open on a regular schedule. A permit lets the holder take, import, possess, transport, and transfer the animal to others who meet the same rules; buyers or recipients then have the same duties. Births of captive animals must be reported within 30 days and planned sales or moves must be reported to the Secretary at least 15 days before the action. The Secretary must set the permit application process, publish each application and allow 30 days for public comment, and may hold a hearing if asked within 30 days. The Secretary must decide as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the hearing ends or the comment period closes, and publish the decision within 10 days. Anyone can seek judicial review within 60 days. Lethal research permits are allowed only if nonlethal methods won’t work and special limits apply for depleted stocks. The Secretary must issue a general authorization for bona fide research causing only Level B harassment within 120 days after April 30, 1994, and people must send a letter of intent 60 days before starting such research with specified information. Permits to import polar bear parts from Canadian sport hunts require proof of legal harvest and findings about Canada’s program, carry a fee, and are subject to a scientific review within 2 years after April 30, 1994; permits must not be issued after September 30, 1996, if that review finds significant harm (annual reviews and decisions must be finished by January 31 when done). The Secretary can change, suspend, or cancel permits for rule changes, violations, or polar bear concerns, but must give the permit holder a hearing before the action takes effect and publish notice within 10 days. The Secretary must keep an inventory of permitted marine mammals with basic facts about each animal, require permit holders to carry the permit while animals are transported or held, may charge reasonable fees, and may issue annual permits for U.S. purse seine fishing vessels under applicable rules.
Full Legal Text
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 1374
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73