SWIMS Act of 2022

To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the taking, importation, exportation, and breeding of certain cetaceans for public display, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2022 SWIMS Act of 2022 2. Findings; Sense of Congress (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Certain cetaceans, namely orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales are large-brained mammals who engage in creative problem solving, intentional communication, show signs of empathy for others and complex emotions, and form lifelong bonds. (2) Science increasingly supports that the species listed in paragraph (1) suffer in captivity. They die prematurely, engage in stereotypic behavior that is indicative of suffering and distress, are held in barren tanks, and are sometimes isolated from members of their own species, among other harms. (3) Current Federal laws allow the species listed in paragraph (1) to be confined in concrete tanks that fail to meet their basic psychological, physical, and social needs. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the species listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) should not be subject to restraint, coercion, or control by any person for purposes of public display. 3. Prohibition on exportation, taking, and importation of certain cetaceans (a) Prohibition on Exportation Section 102 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1372(a) (g) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is unlawful to export any orca, beluga whale, false killer whale, or pilot whale except for the transport of such species— (A) to a marine mammal sanctuary with a determination by the Secretary that the transportation to such sanctuary is in the best interest of the individual marine mammal; or (B) for release to the wild. (2) In this subsection, the term sanctuary (A) live in a captive setting as close as possible to their natural environment; (B) are prioritized individually with respect to well-being and autonomy; and (C) are not used for profit or breeding for the purpose of public display. . (b) Prohibition on permits for taking or importation Section 104(a) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1374(a) (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may issue permits which authorize the taking or importation of any marine mammal. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may not issue any permit that authorizes the taking or importation of any orca, beluga whale, false killer whale, or pilot whale for the purpose of public display. (3) The Secretary may issue permits for the incidental taking of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing operations only as specifically provided for in section 101(a)(5) or 306, or subsection (h) of this section. . 4. Prohibition on breeding of certain cetaceans The Animal Welfare Act ( 17 U.S.C. 2131 et seq. 30. Breeding of certain cetaceans It shall be unlawful for any person to breed or artificially inseminate any orca, beluga whale, false killer whale, or pilot whale for purposes of using the progeny of such species for public display. .

Summary: Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2022 or as the SWIMS Act of 2022 This bill establishes prohibitions on capturing, importing, exporting, or breeding of orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, or pilot whales for the purpose of public display. Specifically, the bill prohibits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from issuing any permit under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 that authorizes the taking (e.g., capturing) or importation of such orcas or whales for the purpose of public display. The bill further revises the act to make it unlawful to export such orcas or whales, unless they are being transported to marine mammal sanctuaries or for release into the wild. Further, the bill makes it unlawful under the Animal Welfare Act for any person to breed or artificially inseminate such marine mammals for purposes of using their progeny for public display.