H.R. 8496: Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act of 2026, proposes amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Its main goals are to address the impact of climate change on marine mammals and to enhance their conservation. Below is a summary of its key provisions:

Establishment of Climate Impact Management Plans

Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, must:

• Publish a list of marine mammal species and populations that are likely to decline or fail to recover due to climate change.
• Identify species that may be threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act if climate change impacts are significant.
• Review and update this list at least every five years or as new information arises.

Climate Impact Management Plan Components

The Secretary must create and implement climate impact management plans for affected marine mammals, which include the following:

• A comprehensive strategy for conservation and recovery that accounts for climate change effects.
• Measures to manage human impacts, such as fishing interactions, and to reduce habitat degradation.
• Objective criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures.

Draft plans must be published for public comment, with final plans issued after consideration of feedback.

Monitoring Climate Impacts

To understand and track how climate change affects marine mammals, the bill requires the Secretary to establish a monitoring program with goals to:

• Improve models predicting changes in marine mammal populations and distributions.
• Monitor human activities that affect these species due to climate shifts.
• Assess and understand the broad impacts of climate change on marine mammal ecosystems.

Regulation for Listing Adversely Impacted Species

The Secretary is tasked with creating regulations for listing marine mammals adversely affected by climate change. This process includes:

• Public comment on proposed regulations for at least 60 days.
• Publishing final regulations based on public input within 90 days after the comment period ends.

Financial Provisions

The bill authorizes appropriations to support efforts, specifically:

• $10 million annually for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for five fiscal years.
• $5 million annually for the Secretary of the Interior for five fiscal years.
• $1 million annually for the Marine Mammal Commission for five fiscal years.

Reporting Requirements

The Secretary must report to Congress every two years regarding the actions taken to implement the bill, including any challenges or backlogs in completing required plans.

International Cooperation

The Secretary will also review agreements with foreign governments concerning marine mammal management and can initiate amendments or new negotiations as necessary.

Relevant Companies

None found.