David Helvarg recently wrote an article on the LA Times highlighting the recent attack on the Marine Mammal Protection Act by Rep. Nick Begich.

The Golden Era of Environmental Protection

David recalls the environmental awakening of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when disasters like the Santa Barbara oil spill and the Cuyahoga River fire spurred landmark legislation. These included the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the MMPA, and the Endangered Species Act. Among them, the MMPA stands out for protecting all marine mammals—not just endangered ones—against hunting, harassment, and incidental harm.

Rising Threats from Policy Rollbacks

Today, those protections are under attack. Representative Nick Begich of Alaska has introduced legislation to weaken the MMPA by curbing federal oversight of “incidental take”—the unintentional killing or injuring of marine mammals by industrial activities such as shipping, fishing, and energy exploration. Critics like Representative Jared Huffman warn this would amount to a “death sentence” for many marine species, undoing decades of progress.

MMPA’s Successes—and Its Limits

The law’s impact is clear in species recoveries. Northern elephant seals have grown from roughly 10,000 in 1972 to about 125,000 today, while gray whales off the West Coast climbed from around 11,000 to nearly 27,000 by 2016. Yet, not all species have fared as well. North Atlantic right whales, once numbering around 20,000, remain critically endangered at fewer than 400 individuals. Similarly, dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico saw a 45% population decline following the Deepwater Horizon disaster and may take decades to recover.

Climate Change Compounds the Crisis

Even as some populations rebound, climate change is creating new and severe pressures. Warming Arctic waters are depleting prey for gray whales, leading to starvation and declining birth rates. Along the West Coast and Alaska, marine heatwaves, toxic algal blooms, and collapsing kelp forests are causing die-offs among dolphins, sea lions, and sea otters. These stresses make strong protections more necessary than ever.

Why Protecting Whales Protects Us All

Whales and other marine mammals are more than charismatic species—they are indicators of ocean health. Their survival signals the resilience of the ecosystems that also sustain human life. Weakening the MMPA now would not only jeopardize whales, dolphins, and seals but also undermine the ecological balance we depend upon. Protecting them is ultimately about protecting ourselves.

Take action and call your Congressional representatives to defend this crucial cornerstone of marine conservation – visit the link here to find your rep!

Read the full article by David on the LA Times.