Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act of 2026

Species Conservation: The bill requires the creation of comprehensive strategies to conserve and recover marine mammal species and stocks by addressing the effects of climate change and increasing resiliency (Section 2(a)(3)(B)).

Improved Environmental Monitoring: The Secretary must establish a program within NOAA to monitor adverse impacts of climate change, improve models of future changes in distribution, and assess contributions to carbon reduction (Section 2(b)).

Public Involvement: The bill ensures transparency by requiring notice and opportunities for public comment regarding species lists, draft management plans, and new regulations (Section 2(a)(1), 2(a)(2), and 2(a)(3)(ii)).

Inter-Agency Coordination: Federal agencies are directed to use their authorities to further the conservation strategies and ensure their actions do not conflict with the management plans (Section 2(a)(3)(D)).

Regulatory Burdens on Agencies: Federal agencies must ensure their authorized or funded actions are consistent with climate impact management plans, and if a conflict is found, they must adopt measures required by the Secretary to minimize such conflicts (Section 2(a)(3)(D)(ii)).

Impacts from Insufficient Funding: If there is not enough money to develop or implement a plan, certain species or stocks will be deemed "depleted" and "strategic stocks," which may trigger different regulatory requirements (Section 2(a)(3)(A)(iv)(II)).