Part of the Council's responsibility is to ensure that fishery management measures will not have adverse impacts on protected marine resources such as whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and endangered species. 

During the development of fishery management plans and amendments, the Council is required to evaluate potential interactions of the managed species with non-target species, endangered species, and marine mammals.  The Council coordinates its management plans with the NMFS Northeast Regional Office to address and mitigate any potential interactions. 

PROTECTED RESOURCE LAWS

The two protected resource laws that the Council most frequently considers in its decision-making are the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).  

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 was enacted to maintain marine mammal stocks at their optimum sustainable population (OSP) level and to restore depleted stocks.  The law prohibits the take of  all 128 species of marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, sea otters, manatees, polar bears, seals, and walruses.  The term “take” is defined as “to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal.” 

• Read the Marine Mammal Protection Act (full text - PDF)

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals.  It also calls for protection of the habitats and ecosystems in which these species are found.  The law requires federal agencies, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and/or the NOAA Fisheries Service, to ensure that the actions they authorize are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or cause the destruction of the habitats those species depend on. 

• Read the Endangered Species Act (full text - PDF)