Late July 2025 brought troubling news: U.S. Congressman Nick Begich (R–AK) introduced a draft bill that would significantly narrow the Marine Mammal Protection Act—a key law that has safeguarded whales, dolphins, seals and polar bears since 1972. Conservationists warn that the draft could undo decades of progress in protecting marine mammals from harm.

The threat

The proposed legislation would roll back core safeguards under the MMPA, making it harder to shield imperilled species such as North Atlantic right whales, Hawaiian monk seals, Southern Resident orcas, belugas and polar bears. It arrives amid cuts to NOAA and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and under pressure on other environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act. 

Why it matters

The MMPA emerged in 1972 as the first U.S. law to adopt an ecosystem-based approach to wildlife protection, banning the unpermitted "take" of marine mammals and establishing moratoria on trade, while promoting recovery of depleted populations.  

Today, it still underpins vital measures—including take reduction plans, stock assessment, and limits on import of fish caught without marine mammal safeguards.  

Voices from the field

Kathleen Collins of the International Fund for Animal Welfare called the proposed bill “heartbreaking,” insisting it threatens decades of conservation efforts: “The blood of thousands of marine mammals will be on the hands of Congress,” she said.  

What’s next

Conservation groups are urging the public to act, particularly ahead of the legislative deadline cited in alerts. Calls focus on urging members of Congress to reject the weakening of the MMPA and preserve the law’s science-based, precautionary protections.