The first major conservation effort to protect whales occurred with the signing of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in 1946. This was an international effort to conserve whale stocks for the future of the whaling industry.

In the United States, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed by congress in 1972. This Act gives protection to all marine mammals including all cetaceans, walrus, sea otters, and polar bears.

Learn more about Conservation of marine mammals.

Even though marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, there are still many things that threaten their survival. Most of the current threats to marine mammals are caused by humans.

For more information on the threats to marine mammals, go to the Threats page.

To learn more about how marine mammals become stranded, go to the Stranding information page.

For additional information about marine mammal behavior, go to the Behavior information page.