Measures+to+protect+marine+mammals


 * Main points to consider about the issue**
 * Marine mammals are aquatic mammals that inhabit oceans and seas; water dwelling mammals
 * This biological grouping is unified by reliance on marine environment
 * 128 species; Marine mammals include but are not limited to: cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), sea otters, and polar bears...
 * As a result of human activities marine species may be in danger or extinction
 * It is necessary for the balance in the ecosystem to prevent species or stocks to fall below their optimum sustainable population level

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 * What the international community has already done to address this issue**
 * The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted on October 21, 1972; amended in 1994 to allow certain exceptions
 * MMPA was passed by the US congress and prohibits the taking of marine mammals in US waters.
 * The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened
 * Marine Mammal Center works with several endangered marine mammals
 * Australia developed the International Whale and Marine Mammal Conservation Initiatives Program
 * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established research programs and protection initiatives
 * The government of Mexico is currently developing a plan to remove entangling nets from their waters to protect mammals; Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE)
 * The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) was established in 1992 [by the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway] under the Agreement on Cooperation in Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic.
 * Your country's point of view about this issue and reasons for this point of view**
 * Protection of "The South American River Dolphin Protected Area Network SARDPAN" and "The Action Plan for South American River Dolphins and major human stressors that impact river dolphins directly: interactions with fisheries and killing of dolphins to be used as bait" was coordinated by Fundacion Omacha of Colombia
 * There are seven protected marine are located in the Colombian Caribbean
 * Colombia is firmly against the harmful actions towards marine mammals and feels strongly towards the issue of protecting the specific marine mammals, dolphins: This is because Colombia is under pressure by organizations because of their exportation of dolphin-deadly tuna. Colombia wishes these issues to be addressed and for all South American countries to take note
 * Strongly supports US based marine protection programs


 * At least three solutions that your country would propose to address this issue**
 * Begin national educational campaigns to promote the protection of marine mammals and prevent the depletion of species
 * Research, develop and establish dolphin-safe tuna as a first step towards protecting marine mammals
 * Create protection acts such as the MMPA is variety of regions around the world to ensure to global safety of marine mammals



=**__CLAUSES__**=

**1.** Calls upon all member nations to follow the example set by the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the implementation and adoption of the Marine Mammal Protection Act to ensure, a) An adequate amount of knowledge of the ecology and population dynamics of marine mammals b) Marine mammals or stocks are not in danger of extinction as a result of human activities, c) Marine mammal species do not fall below their optimum sustainable population level, d) Measures are taken to replenish stocks and species

**2.** Urges the collaboration of Marine Mammal Observers and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Operators to explore projects aimed to curtail the effects of four main operations at sea causing concern, a) Seismic Surveys -Looking for new oil and gas reserves b) Explosives -Using them in the decommissioning of oil structures c) Pile Driving for Construction –Creating tidal turbine and new piers d) Military Sonar –Using them to detect submarines

**3.** Encourages governments and marine based organization to utilize media and advertising to educate and inform the people on individual actions to ultimately mitigate the effects on marine mammals, including but not limited to, a) Limit the use of plastics, disposables and single use products as they are a hazard to marine life, b) Follow the basic steps for the overall reduction of global warming which causes ocean acidification (drive less, walk more, reduce energy consumption, reduce carbon output etc…), c) Volunteer to participate in cleanup activities to limit pollution on beaches and in water, d) Dispose of fishing lines responsibly as they threaten marine life and cause mammals to become entangled within them, e) Consume dolphin safe tuna that ensures the protection of marine mammals,