Marine Mammal Preservation and Recovery Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3316
Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Alaska
Arrest
Arts, Culture, Religion
Authorization
Bribery
California
Canada
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consultants
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Cultural relations
Department of Commerce
Department of the Interior
Directories
Ecological research
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Environmental Protection
Environmental law enforcement
Environmental monitoring
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Equipment and supplies
Eskimos
Europe
Evidence (Law)
Exhibitions
Export controls
Exports
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal aid to research
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-state relations
Fees
Fines (Penalties)
Firearms
Fisheries
Fishery management
Fishing
Fishing boats
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Forfeiture
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government liability
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Greenland
Handicraft
Health
Import restrictions
Indigenous peoples
International Affairs
Internet
Laboratory animals
Law
Licenses
Marine Mammal Commission
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine mammals
Minorities
Native Americans
Obstruction of justice
Otters
Pest control
Poaching
Product development
Protection of animals
Rescue work
Research and development
Russia
Science, Technology, Communications
Seals (Animals)
Searches and seizures
Sexual harassment
Ships
Standards
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Tissue banks
Transportation and Public Works
Veterinary medicine
Whales
Wild animal trade
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife reintroduction
Zoos

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Marine Mammal Preservation and Recovery Act of 2003 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) to redefine marine mammal &quot;harassment&quot; in a manner that takes into account cumulative effects of behavioral changes.
 
Requires the Marine Mammal Commission to establish a captive marine mammal care and maintenance standards advisory committee.
 
Prohibits marine mammal traveling exhibits.
 
Limits the import and export of marine mammal products to the cultural exchanges or noncommercial activities of specified groups.
 
Amends the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Program to provide financial assistance for certain stranding events.
 
Adds entanglement events to data collection, response agreement, and responder liability requirements (currently applicable to stranding events).
 
Expands the marine mammal research grant program to include research into ecosystems.
 
Enhances penalties for MMPA violations. Prohibits the obstruction of MMPA-related enforcement activities. 
 
Authorizes research and grant programs for the nonlethal control of nuisance pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). 
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) issue final regulations on deterring marine mammals; (2) publish and implement a ship strike reduction plan for North Atlantic right whales; and (3) reconvene the regional scientific review groups authorized by the MMPA to advise the Secretary on stock assessments. 
 
Requires the Chairman of the Marine Mammal Commission to report to the Secretaries of Commerce and of the Interior, specified congressional committees, and the public on emerging threats to marine mammals.
 
Modifies commercial fishing vessel registration requirements.
 
Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a take reduction plan for each strategic stock that interacts with a fishery.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to establish voluntary fishing gear buyback and research mini-grant programs to foster the use of gear that reduces the incidental taking of marine mammals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-27
text: Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Interior.
action_date: 2003-10-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2062-2063)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in House