Meet the Orca (Killer Whale)

October 2022

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act!

Marine mammals are vital to the balance of marine ecosystems and are key indicators of the overall health of the ocean. Enacted on this day in 1972, this important piece of legislation helps us protect animals like this orca in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The act ensures that marine mammals like whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, and dolphins can carry out their normal lives without disruption – and without the threat of hunting, poaching, or exploitation.