16 U.S.C. § 917 : US Code - Section 917: Congressional findings

Search 16 U.S.C. § 917 : US Code - Section 917: Congressional findings

The Congress finds that -
(1) whales are a unique resource of great aesthetic and
scientific interest to mankind and are a vital part of the marine
ecosystem;
(2) whales have been overexploited by man for many years,
severely reducing several species and endangering others;
(3) the United States has extended its authority and
responsibility to conserve and protect all marine mammals,
including whales, out to a two hundred nautical mile limit by
enactment of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act [16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.];
(4) the conservation and protection of certain species of
whales, including the California gray, bowhead, sperm, and killer
whale, are of particular interest to citizens of the United
States;
(5) increased ocean activity of all types may threaten the
whale stocks found within the two hundred-mile jurisdiction of
the United States and added protection of such stocks may be
necessary;
(6) there is inadequate knowledge of the ecology, habitat,
requirements, and population levels and dynamics of all whales
found in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
and
(7) further study of such matters is required in order for the
United States to carry out its responsibilities for the
conservation and protection of marine mammals.