PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 103-238.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 8, 1993
Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends Federal law to extend authorized appropriations for FY 1994 through 1998 for the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the Marine Mammal Commission to carry out the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow commercial fishing operations the incidental lethal taking of marine mammals from a species or stock designated as depleted because of its listing as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, if such taking is pursuant to a statement issued by the Secretary of the Commerce. Requires conservation plans to only address non-incidental takings, if an incidental taking plan is necessary to reduce such taking from a critical stock. Requires the Secretary, in implementing the incidental taking program, to seek the advice of experts in marine mammal biology and ecology, population dynamics and modeling, and commercial fishing technology and practices. Requires the publication of updated stock assessments annually for stocks considered critical and every three years for all other marine mammal stocks. Requires the stock to be designated into five categories ranked in priority based in population trend, size, and level of total lethal take. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement an incidental taking plan designed to assist in the recovery of each marine mammal stock that is listed as a critical stock and interacts with commercial fisheries. Requires regulations implementing such plan to reduce incidental lethal or serious injury takes to insignificant rates approaching zero within ten years. Authorizes the Secretary to develop a system to register commercial fishing vessels and to assist fishery efforts where necessary to understand the interaction between commercial fisheries and marine mammal stocks in a region. Sets forth reporting requirements for commercial fishing vessels on incidental lethal and serious injury takings. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a program to monitor such takes during the course of commercial fishing operations which includes observers on certain vessels. Directs the Secretary to establish an incidental take team for the harbor seal stock in Alaska and for the harbor porpoise stock in the Gulf of Maine to immediately draft an incidental taking plan. Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit certain forms of deterrence used on marine mammals that have a significant adverse effect.
People & committees
Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D–MA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 103-238.
Became Public Law No: 103-238.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment to House amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4923-4935)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment to House amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S4923-4935)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk:.
House agreed to Senate amendment to House amendment with amendment pursuant to H. Res. 412. (consideration: CR H2714-2727)
Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendment to House amendment with amendment pursuant to H. Res. 412.(consideration: CR H2714-2727)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4933-4935)
Senate concurred in the House amendment with amendment (SP 1576) by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3629)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendment with amendment (SP 1576) by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S3629)
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of S. 1636.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1840-1851)
Mr. Studds moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
The committee amendments were agreed to by Voice Vote.
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S3288-3311)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 348.
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with amendments. With written report No. 103-220.
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with amendments. With written report No. 103-220.
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15325-15326)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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