|
U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1361. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
The Congress finds that -
(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
should be made to protect essential habitats, including 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 should 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 and
their habitats is therefore necessary to insure the continuing
availability of those products which move in interstate commerce;
and
(6) marine mammals have proven themselves to be resources of
great international significance, esthetic and recreational as
well as economic, and it is the sense of the Congress that they
should be protected and encouraged to develop to the greatest
extent feasible commensurate with sound policies of resource
management and that the primary objective of their management
should be to maintain the health and stability of the marine
ecosystem. Whenever consistent with this primary objective, it
should be the goal to obtain an optimum sustainable population
keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat.
|
|