Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Act (Title III - Marine Mammal Strandings, of the Oceans Act of 1992). Country/Territory United States of America Document type Legislation Date 1992 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Public Law 102-587, 4 November 1992, pp. 5059-5068. Subject Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Marine mammals Management/conservation Data collection/reporting Research Protection of species Geographical area Americas, Arctic, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic Abstract This Act is based upon Congressional findings that a formal system for collection, preparation, and archiving of, and providing access to, marine mammal tissues will enhance efforts to investigate the health of marine mammals and health trends of marine mammal populations, and to develop reference data. The Act amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to provide for marine mammal health and, in particular, for stranded marine mammals. A Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program is to be established, including a network of persons who agree to take care of stranded mammals, contingency plans to respond to unexpected strandings with significant mortality, and a National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank. The term "stranding" means "an event in the wild in which a marine mammal is dead and is on a beach or shore of the United States or in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States ...; or a marine mammal is alive and is on a beach or shore of the United States and unable to return to the water; on a beach or shore of the United States and, although able to return to the water, is in need of apparent medical attention; or in the waters under the jurisdiction of the United States ... but is unable to return to its natural habitat under its own power or without assistance". The term "unusual mortality event" means a "stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response". Full text English