Marine Mammal Protection Act – 50th Anniversary
These videos were created in collaboration with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Coalition, celebrating 50 years of the MMPA! On October 21, 1972, the MMPA was signed into law after years of advocacy from scientists, activists, the public, and legislators from both parties.
The MMPA was the first federal law to establish protections for marine mammals—and over the years, it has improved the status of many populations that had reached dangerously low numbers by the late 1960s. However, other species, such as the North Atlantic right whale and the Hawaiian monk seal, are still struggling and have not recovered. Join us in celebrating a half-century of marine mammal protection—together, we can help marine mammals face the next 50 years of human-caused challenges.