Ocean advocacy

The Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed by Congress in 1972 in response to significant declines in marine mammal species caused by human activities such as whaling, sealing, and the bycatch of marine mammals in certain fisheries, including approximately 6 million dolphins caught and killed in the tuna fishery in the decade prior to this legislation (NOAA Fisheries, 2025).

The MMPA prevents marine mammal species and population stocks significant decline or extinction due to human activities to ensure healthy marine ecosystems.

the mmpa matters

50 YEARS OF THE MMPA

Over the last 50 years, the Marine Mammal Protection Act has supported the recovery of marine mammals that were on the brink of extinction, including:

1. The Northern elephant seal population, which had been hunted to the brink of extinction, is now hovering around 250,000 animals today (Le Bouef, 2021).

2. The Eastern Pacific gray whale, whose recovery led to it being the first species of baleen whale to be taken off the endangered species list.

Marine mammals play critical roles in maintaining ocean health.

Examples are numerous and include the fecal matter of whales supporting phytoplankton growth, essential to the oxygen we breathe, atmospheric carbon capture, and fish we consume (University of Vermont, 2013) or sea otters helping to regulate prey populations and maintain the balance of kelp forest and coastal ecosystems (US Fish & Wildlife Service, 2025).

protectionS the MMPA provides are in danger of being dismantled

Proposed changes have gone to congress that could be disastrous for marine mammal populations. This is during a time when marine mammals are struggling to adapt to accelerating Climate Change impacts including warming seas, prey depletion, ocean acidification, and altered migration pattern (Marine Mammal Commission, 2025).

Examples that are becoming far too frequent include:

• Increasing number of harmful algal blooms causing mass mortalities of sea lions and dolphins. • Mass strandings of starving gray whales between 2019-2023, which have started again in 2025.

• Continued fishery entanglements of critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales (NOAA Fisheries, 2025)

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Stop Congress from weakening the Marine Mammal Protection Act

The MMPA is under fire, and your help is desperately needed to keep the safeguards it provides in place.

Find your representative below and copy our provided draft to send your representative a letter of concern voicing your support for the MMPA.

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investigate the issues

Stop Congress from weakening the Marine Mammal Protection Act
The MMPA is under fire, and your help is desperately needed to keep the safeguards it provides in place.
Copy our provided draft and send your representative a letter of concern voicing your support for the MMPA.

Download letter
Protect Laguna Beach’s Goff Island Harbor Seals and Habitat
Students at Orange Coast College are collecting signatures of support to get a permanent sign installed explaining that Goff Island is a haul out resting area and that people should share the shore, avoiding disturbing the local Pacific harbor seals.

Sign the Petition
Protect California’s Grey Whales from Harassment and Harm
NOAA Fisheries determined in 1994 that the North Pacific gray whale population had fully recovered and no longer needed protection under the Endangered Species Act, but today their population is in decline.
NOAA plans to decide on whether to proceed with the next step in the relisting decision process by November 24, 2025.

Sign the petition

Give Marine Mammals a Voice!

Pacific Marine Mammal Center understands that it is essential that we go beyond our response and rehabilitation efforts with marine mammals, by investigating why these animals are stranding and what it says about the current state of the ocean.

Further, as experts in our field, it is our responsibility to share our knowledge and findings to advocate for a healthy ocean and support policies that support this goal.

Passionate about a current issue? Want to hear our thoughts on a topic? Send our VP of Education and Ocean Advocacy an email.

How can you help?

The ocean and its’ inhabitants need us right now. Be a Voice for the Voiceless. Help protect marine mammals and their home by investigating the issues, using your voice by educating others, and letting your congressional leaders know what is important to you.