management recommendations. A moratorium exists at present on the taking, 

 killing, or harassment of all marine mammals in U.S. waters except by permit 

 issued by the Secretary of Commerce. 



The findings and declaration of policy of the Act are excerpted below: 



1. certain species and population stocks of 

 marine mammals are, or may be, in danger of 

 extinction or depletion as a result of man's 

 activities ; 



2. such species and population stocks should not 

 be permitted to diminish beyond the point at 

 which they cease to be a significant 

 functioning element in the ecosystem of which 

 they are a part, and, consistent with this 

 major objective, they should not be permitted 

 to diminish below their optimum sustainable 

 population. Further measures should be 

 immediately taken to replenish any species or 

 population stock which has already diminished 

 below that population. In particular, efforts 

 would be made to protect the rookeries, mating 

 grounds, and areas of similar significance for 

 each species of marine mammal from the adverse 

 effect of man's actions; 



3. there is inadequate knowledge of the ecology 

 and population dynamics of such marine mammals 

 and of the factors which bear upon their 

 ability to reproduce themselves successfully; 



4. negotiations would be undertaken immediately 

 to encourage the development of international 

 arrangements for research on, and conservation 

 of, all marine mammals; 



5. marine mammals and marine mammal products 

 either 



A. move in interstate commerce, or 



B. affect the balance of marine ecosystems in 

 a manner which is important to other 

 animals and animal products which move in 

 interstate commerce, and that the 

 protection and conservation of marine 

 mammals is therefore necessary to insure 

 the continuing availability of those 

 products which move in interstate 

 commerce; and 



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