185 



forth . . . permissible methods of taking pursuant to such 

 activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable 

 adverse impact on such species or stock and its habitat." 15 

 Similarly, the Secretary may issue a general taking or 

 importation permit, provided that in issuing the regulations 

 governing such a situation, "the Secretary shall give full 

 consideration to . . . the marine ecosystem and related 

 environmental considerations." 16 



In the context of international agreements, the Act 

 emphasizes the importance of protecting regions as opposed to 

 individual animals. The MMPA encourages the Secretaries, 

 working through the Secretary of State, to "seek . . . 

 agreements to promote the purposes of this act with other 

 nations for the protection of specific ocean and land regions 

 which are of special significance to the health and stability 

 of marine mammals." 17 



Finally, in a recent addition to the MMPA, the "Marine 

 Mammal Health and Stranding Response Act," Congress focused 

 attention on the impacts pollutants in the marine environment 

 are having on the health of marine mammals. One purpose of 

 the program established by this Act is to "correlate the 



^Idi S 1371(a) (5)(ii)(l). 

 16 Id. S 1373(b)(3). 

 17 Id. S 1378(a)(3). 



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