4 



maximally painless to the seals, and shall, not later than April 1, 1972, adopt 

 regulations requiring that after July 1, 1972, such technique be the only per- 

 missible method of killing seals. 



"The Secretary shall, moreover, initiate or contract for research on shortening 

 the seal drive from rookery to hauling ground, and on minimizing the stress 

 upon seals during that drive." 



[H.R. 6554, H.R. 6558. H.R. 6801, H.R. 7217, H.R. 7229, H.R. 7431, H R . 7477, H R. 7530, 

 H.R 7555, H.R. 7556, H.R. 7706, H.R. 7794, H.R. 7861, H.R. 7891, H.R. 7952. H.R. 810o. 

 H.R. 839l! H.R. 8526, H.R. 8804. H.R. 9041. H.R. 9356, H.R. 9409, H.R. 95o7, H.R. 9917, 

 92d Cong., first sess.] 



BILLS to protect ocean mammals from being pursued, harassed, or killed ; and for other 



purposes 



Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 

 of America in Congress assemUed, That the following Act may be cited as the 

 "Ocean Mammal Protection Act of 1971". 



TiTLB I — Findings and Declabations of Policy 



FINDINGS 



Seo. 101. The Congress finds that ocean mammals are being ruthlessly pursued, 

 harassed, or killed, both at sea and on land by hunters of many nations of the 

 world. The Congress further finds that many ocean mammals will become rare, 

 if not extinct, unless steps are taken to stop their slaughter. 



DECLARATIONS OF POLICY 



iSec. 102. (a) It is hereby declared tx) be the public policy of the United States 

 to protect all ocean mammals from harassment or slaughter. 



(b) It is hereby declared to be the further public policy of the Ignited States 

 that negotiations should be undertaken with foreign governments and through 

 interested international organizations with a view to obtaining a worldwide 

 ban on the further slaughter of ocean mammals. 



Title II — General Prohibitions 



DEFINITIONS 



Sec. 201. For the purposes of this title — 



(a) "ocean mammals" means all seal, whole, walrus, manatee or sea cow, 

 sea otter, sea lion, ix)lar bear, porpoise, and dolphin ; 



(b) "Person" includes individual, partnership, corporation, association, 

 and federal and state agencies ; and 



(c) the terms "take" or "taking" or "taken" mean to harass, pursue, hunt, 

 sflioot, dynamite, capture, collect, kill, or attempt to harass, pursue, hunt, 

 shoot, dynamite, capture, collect or kill. 



PROHIBITIONS 



Sec. 202. (a) It is unlawfiU, except as provided in section 203 of this title or 

 in title III, for any person or vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United 

 States to engage in the taking of ocean mammals either on the high seas or on 

 lands or waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, or to use any port or 

 harbor or other place under the jurisdiction of the United States for any purpose 

 connected in any way with such taking or for any jjerson to transport, import, 

 offer for sale, or possess at any port or place or on any vessel, subject to the 

 jurisdiction of the United States, ocean mammalvs or the parts of ocean mammals 

 taken after the enactment of this Act, including but not limited to. raw. dressed, 

 or dyed fur or skins. 



(b) The i>ossession of ocean mammals or any part thereof by any person con- 

 trary to the provisions of this Act shall constitute prima facie evidence that that 

 ocean mammal or part thereof was taken, purchased, sold, or transported in 

 violation of the provisions of this Act or the regulations issued thereunder. 



