Over the years,
marine mammal populations have been severely depleted due to human
activities. Because of this, a number of international treaties and
national laws have been set up to protect these creatures. One of
the first such treaty was set up by the International Whaling
Commission. In 1946 this group originally formed to help regulate
whaling in response to depleted stock. However, as whale products
grew less popular, this group shifted focus, and in 1982 it set up
the first international ban on all commercial whaling. One major
problem that this Commission still faces is that membership is
voluntary, and some countries such as Japan and Norway insist on
determining their own strategies concerning whaling.

The first laws in the
United States protecting marine mammals contained many loopholes
that made them inadequate. For example, the North Pacific Fur Seal
Act of 1966 only protected the Northern Fur Seal and the Sea Otter
from high seas hunting, when their most serious threats were found
in in-shore waters. The Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969
also failed to protect those marine mammals most at risk. State
laws were also inconsistent or even non-existent in many coastal
states. It was with these concerns in mind when the US congress
drafted the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972.
The Marine Mammal
Protection Act provides the present legal framework for US
conservation of marine mammals and their habitats. It was the first
law to uniformly cover all marine mammals. Since its enactment,
most parties seeking to use these animals for economic gain have not
been granted the right by the courts. It states that all marine
mammal populations should be brought to and maintained at their
optimum sustainable population. Although only a law within the US,
this Act also influences international trade by restricting imports
of marine mammals and their products. The few exceptions for the
taking of marine mammals under this law include scientific research,
public display, photography for educational or commercial purposes,
enhancing the survival or recovery of a species or stock, the
incidental taking during a commercial fisheries operation, the
incidental taking by private citizens, taking by native tribes, and
the taking by non lethal means to protect personal safety or private
property in self defense. Since it was enacted, many amendments
have been made to the Marine Mammal act to ensure that these animals
are being protected, such as the amendments of the 1970s in response
to the fishing industry catching marine mammals in their nets. The
results of this was that the number of dolphins who died in fishery
nets decreased substantially from 368,600 (1972) to 15,305 (1980).

A year after the
Marine Mammal Act was passed, the US Congress enacted another law
that gave several specific marine mammals additional protection.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 established conservation
regulations for specific plant and animal species considered in
danger of extinction. The law was subsequently modified to include
habitat modification as a serious threat that could harm listed
species. Marine mammals protected by the endangered species act
include nine species of whales; the Stellar sea lion, the Hawaiian,
Mediterranean, and Caribbean monk seals; the Guadeloupe fur seal;
the Ringed Seal of lake Saimaa; the marine otter of South America;
the southern population of Sea Otter; all Sirenians; two species of
river dolphins; and the Vaquita. One animal that has greatly
benefited from the protection of the endangered species act is the
West Indian Manatee of Florida. This act helped push through
various boating laws that have allowed these animals more protection
from the threat of boat collisions and habitat loss due to the
building of docks.
The National
Environmental Policy Act sets up procedural requirements concerning
the environmental impact of industry. It has for years provided
much information about how marine mammals are effected by human
activity as well as forced people to seek alternative strategies to
minimize the risks of industry to the environment.
The Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) has secured cooperation of many countries in regulating
trade that might threaten certain species. It offers certain
protections to endangered and threatened species. All cetaceans,
sirenians, marine otters, and 14 species of pinniped are currently
listed on CITES appendices.
The Animal Welfare
Act focuses on animals in captivity, such as a lab or an aquarium,
and how they should be cared for and maintained. Concerning marine
mammals, it ensures they are provided humane care and treatment
during transportation as well as at their permanent location once
they arrive. There is concern by many that this act does not set up
sufficient standards to protect captive marine mammals, and there is
much criticism regarding the holding of them in captivity.
In 1973, the five
nations within the polar bear's territory agreed that the bears were
at considerable risk due to over-hunting and threats to their
habitat. This led to the adoption of the Agreement for the
Conservation of Polar Bears, which prohibited the taking (hunting,
killing, capturing) of them except for research or traditional
tribal reasons. It put special focus on setting up sound
conservation practices with attention on their denning, feeding, and
migratory grounds.

All of these laws and
treaties together have allowed many marine mammal species to rebuild
their populations and reclaim some of their previous ranges. They
have provided much security to marine mammal populations, but more
is needed, especially in regards to industrial management, to ensure
the survival of these species.