Marine Policy
You Can Be a Lawyer for the Ocean! Marine policy experts and ocean lawyers help protect the seas by creating and enforcing laws that keep ecosystems safe and thriving.
The Law of the Sea
The law of the sea is a body of customs, treaties, and international agreements by which governments maintain order, productivity, and peaceful relations on the sea.
Endangered Species Act
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the protection, conservation, and recovery of more than 160 endangered and threatened marine and anadromous species under the Endangered Species Act. The goal of the ESA is to conserve these species and the ecosystems they depend on.
What is the Marine Mammal Protection Act?
Marine mammals, like whales, dolphins, seals, and sea otters, need the ocean to live. Some stay in the water all the time; others come to land to rest or have babies. A law called the Marine Mammal Protection Act keeps them safe from harm or capture.
Magnuson-Stevens Act
The Magnuson–Stevens Act is the main law for managing U.S. ocean fisheries. It helps keep fish populations and fishing jobs healthy by stopping overfishing, protecting habitats, and ensuring a steady, sustainable seafood supply.