Navy Sonar Use
Federal Law and Protecting Whales
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) establisheda moratorium on the taking of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S.nationals on the high seas. Under the MMPA, to take means “to harass, hunt,capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill. In addition,harassment encompasses both behavioral disruption and physical injury, short ofdeath. However, the MMPA does allow U.S. citizens to apply for and obtainauthorization for taking small numbers of mammals incidental to certainactivities (e.g., offshore oil and gas exploration and development) if thattaking would have no more than a negligible effect on any marine mammal speciesor…
