Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION › § 1402
The Commission must review and study what the United States does under laws and international agreements about marine mammals, including the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the Whaling Convention Act of 1949, the Interim Convention on the Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals, and the Fur Seal Act of 1966. It must keep checking the condition of marine mammal stocks, ways to protect them, humane methods of taking them, research programs, and all permit applications for research, public display, or steps to help a species recover. It can do other needed studies and must make recommendations to the Secretary, the Secretary of State, other federal officials, and Congress. It may suggest changes to the endangered and threatened species lists under section 1533(c)(1) and recommend measures to protect Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts whose livelihoods might be harmed. The Commission must consult the Secretary as needed and give the Secretary the annual report required under section 1404 before sending it to Congress for comment. Its reports and recommendations are public and available at reasonable times, and other activities are public under section 552 of title 5. Officials who get recommendations must reply within 120 days. If they do not follow a recommendation, they must send the Commission a detailed explanation why.
Full Legal Text
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 1402
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73