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The article discusses the legal and ethical considerations regarding the capture and care of cetaceans like whales, dolphins and porpoises. Other topics include the laws protecting marine mammals on captivity like the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), the challenges over the release of captive cetaceans, and the complexities of creating seaside sanctuaries as a form of zoological housing and care.

The article explores the prevalence of ectoparasitic barnacles and its threats to the Atlantic common bottlenose dolphins on the entanglement in coastal gill net fisheries. Topics include the definition of population stock under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, the complexities in identifying animal stocks and the importance of morphology, genetic markers and behavior in identifying ecotypes.

I. INTRODUCTION 1028 II. ACUTE, CHRONIC, AND CUMULATIVE ANTHROPOGENIC OCEAN NOISE POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON MARINE MAMMALS 1033 A. Anthropogenic Ocean Noise Pollution 1033 1. Acute AONP Sources and [...], Anthropogenic noise from sources such as sonar, oil and gas exploration, and commercial shipping pollutes the ocean and causes serious problems for marine mammals, who rely on sound to survive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently addressed the extent of anthropogenic ocean noise pollution (AONP) in its Roadmap that elaborates on the agency's decision to try-to address the ocean noise problem using existing statutory authority, such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. Pritzker is the most recent decision in a series of cases arising under the MMPA that provides an example of how noise pollution from sonar has been successfully managed under the Act. However, Pritzker simultaneously highlights the limited capacity of the MMPA to regulate noise pollution from other sources. This Chapter explores the problem of anthropogenic ocean noise pollution and discusses its effects on marine mammals. This Chapter discusses the restricted scope of the Pritzker decision, examines the limited capacity of the MMPA to regulate ocean noise pollution, and details the deficiencies of NOAA's Roadmap. Finally, this Chapter concludes with some suggestions for how statutory authority may be expanded to more adequately address ocean noise pollution.

I. INTRODUCTION II. BACKGROUND A. Ocean Noise Can Be Highly Disruptive to Marine Mammals B. Anthropogenic Ocean Noise Pollution Is Abundant C. Mitigation of Shipping Noise Is Feasible 1. Geographic [...], The public is beginning to recognize the true impacts of ocean noise on marine mammal behavior. In particular, the shipping industry, consisting of thousands of large vessels and tankers, contributes significant noise pollution by emitting loud, constant, droning, low-frequency sounds. The scientific literature has revealed the importance of reducing these noise impacts to ensure the survival of numerous depleted marine mammal populations. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, the current legal regime is capable of addressing noise impacts from shipping activities, but these laws have not yet been utilized to regulate the industry. Despite the apparent ability to treat shipping noise as a "take" under the MMPA and ESA, NOAA Fisheries has not taken regulatory actions to enforce those take prohibitions against the shipping industry. While the availability of the MMPA and NEPA as tools for enforcement through litigation depend on the existence of a federal agency action, the ESA can be enforced directly against shipping vessels that disturb marine mammals through noise production. This paper proposes that legal action against shipping companies under the ESA for a "take" through ocean noise could force the federal government to initiate enforcement of the shipping industry under its delegated authority. Alternative advocacy positions exist as well, including lobbying Congress to add a citizen suit provision to the MMPA or enact a new statute requiring certain vessel design standards intended to reduce noise output. However, given the modern Congressional gridlock, ESA litigation appears to be the most viable strategy available to advance the regulation of shipping noise. Keywords: ocean noise, shipping noise, noise pollution, marine mammals, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act

Over the past few decades, the public has become more and more aware of the inhumane and incredibly harsh treatment of marine mammals being kept in captivity, specifically for entertainment purposes. Anger and outrage reached a heighted level after the CNN documentary, Blackfish, was released in 2013, as the film brought increased awareness to viewers across the country. However, the issue of marine mammals in captivity reaches far deeper than the SeaWorld controversy of recent years; in fact, the issue spans even beyond the United States. This article therefore analyzes the laws which allow for such captivity to take place, both nationally and internationally, while, at the same time, taking note of the impressive progress being made in both the United States and other areas around the world. As a whole, this comparative analysis will compare and contrast the best protection laws against the worst (or, in some cases, inexistent) laws, both nationally and internationally, analyze the common themes and apparent differences, and, based on such analysis, suggest an approach to this global issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic noise from sources such as sonar, oil and gas exploration, and commercial shipping pollutes the ocean and causes serious problems for marine mammals, who rely on sound to survive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently addressed the extent of anthropogenic ocean noise pollution (AONP) in its Roadmap that elaborates on the agency's decision to try to address the ocean noise problem using existing statutory authority, such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. Pritzker is the most recent decision in a series of cases arising under the MMPA that provides an example of how noise pollution from sonar has been successfully managed under the Act. However, Pritzker simultaneously highlights the limited capacity of the MMPA to regulate noise pollution from other sources. This Chapter explores the problem of anthropogenic ocean noise pollution and discusses its effects on marine mammals. This Chapter discusses the restricted scope of the Pritzker decision, examines the limited capacity of the MMPA to regulate ocean noise pollution, and details the deficiencies of NOAA's Roadmap. Finally this Chapter concludes with some suggestions for how statutory authority may be expanded to more adequately address ocean noise pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, placed trained fishery observers aboard commercial fishing vessels to collect a variety of data on catch, bycatch, and fishing operations beginning in the 1970's. Prior to this review, a full documentation of the agency's 40+ year history of fisheries observations had not been completed. The first conclusion drawn from this review is that a substantial shift in the mission and sampling plans of NMFS observer programs that occurred over the past 40 year. This reflects a shift from focused efforts to monitor fishery interactions with marine mammals and the harvest of U.S. resources by foreign fishing vessels to meeting broader needs for the conservation and preservation of marine resources. Second is that the strategy of implementing broad-based sampling programs designed to achieve a specified level of confidence evolved as NMFS moved towards a more fully documented, science-based strategy for fisheries management. Related to this point is the increase in the use of fisheries independent data over time. It is also clear that funding is a key driver of observer coverage levels, and that these costs may increase as management strategies require real-time data for sector and catch-share systems. Continued investment in observer programs, as well as the exploration of new technologies to augment them, will be necessary to maintain the wide availability of observer data for fisheries science and management., Introduction Federal fisheries observer programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have provided scientific data on the nation's commercial fisheries since 1971. Fishery [...]

We provide guidance for monitoring whether human activities affect the physiology or behavior of marine mammals and, if so, whether those effects may lead to changes in survival and reproduction at the population level. We suggest that four elements be included in designing and implementing such a monitoring program. The first is development of a theory of change: a set of mechanistic hypotheses that outline why a given activity might be expected to have one or more measurable effects on individuals and populations, and ideally the magnitude, timing, and duration of the effects. The second element, definition of biologically meaningful effect sizes, ultimately facilitates the development of a monitoring program that can detect those magnitudes of effect with the desired levels of precision. The third element, selection of response variables for monitoring, allows inference to whether observed changes in the status of individuals or populations are attributable to a given activity. Visual observations, passive acoustic and tagging instruments, and direct physical measurements all can provide data that facilitate quantitative hypothesis testing. The fourth element is specification of the temporal sequence of monitoring. These elements also can be used to inform monitoring of the responses of other taxonomic groups to human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In an attempt to curb the detrimental effects of a ballooning sea otter population, a new bill proposed in the Alaska State Senate seeks to amend the Alaska fish [...]

The article focuses on the public display of marine mammals in the U.S., and mentions regulations governing the marine mammal public display industry for ensuring the wellbeing of the captive marine mammals, such as Marine Mammal Protection Act, Animal Welfare Act and Endangered Species Act.