Hands off. Touching wildlie, or

attempting to do so, can injurethe animal, put you at risk, andmay be illegal or most protectedspecies.

Stay away from wildlife that

appears abandoned or sick.

Animals that appear sick may not

be. They may be resting or areyoung awaiting the return o aparent. I animals are approached,their behavior may become

aggressive. I you think an animalis sick or injured, contact localauthorities.

Never chase or harass

 wildlife. Do not surround, trapor separate animals, approachthem head on, or approach themdirectly rom behind. Make sure

they know you are there beorethey see you.

Learn before you go. Many

marine wildlie species have specifchabitat needs and sensitive liecyclerequirements. Use the Internet,guidebooks, and knowledgeable

people to learn how to observethem responsibly, where you planto visit them.

Keep your distance. Getting

too close to animals can beharmul to them and to you. Takeprecaution and use binocularsthat let you view animals rom

a distance where they won’t bedisturbed.

Do not feed or attract

marine wildlife. Feeding orattempting to attract wildlie mayharm animals by causing sickness,death, and habituation to people.

Animals that are accustomed tohumans become vulnerable toinjuries and can be dangerous

to people.

 Wildlife and pets don’t mix.

Wild animals can injure andspread diseases to pets, and petscan harm and disturb wildlie. I you are traveling with pets, keep

them leashed and away rommarine wildlie.

Lend a hand with trash

removal. Human garbage andfshing debris are some o thegreatest threats to marine wildlie.Carry a trash bag with you and

pick up litter ound along theshore.

Help others to become

responsible wildlife watchers

and tour operators. Leadby example. It’s up to you!Obtain and carry a ew copies o these guidelines on your travels

and share them with others.Patronize businesses that ollowthese guidelines. Protectingand conserving is everyone’s

responsibility.

NOAA’s OCEAN ETIQUETTE : MARINE WILDLIFE VIEWING GUIDELINES

• Become Ocean Literate.

•Volunteer with an organization that

works to protect the ocean.

• Be mindful of your own environment.

Litter and pollutants can end up in the

ocean and harm marine wildlife.

•Treat our coasts, oceans, and the

animals that live there with care.

• Actively participate in local, state and 

federal efforts to protect and manage

coastal and ocean resources.

How You Can Help;

For marine mammal strandings and violations call:

NOAA Enforcement Hotline

1-800-853-1964

 

M A R I N E

 W I L D L I F E

 V I E W I N G

G U I D E L I N E S

Federal LawsProtecting Wildlife

Marine Mammal Protection Act The MMPA prohibits the “take o marine

mammals. “Take” includes actions such as hunting,harassing, killing, capturing, injuring, anddisturbing a marine mammal. For moreinormation please consult the text o the MMPA

at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr 

Endangered Species Act The ESA prohibits the “take” o a threatened

or endangered species in U.S. territorial waters.“Take” under the ESA means to harass, harm,pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill trap, capture,or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such

conduct. For more inormation, please consult thetext o the ESA at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr.

National Marine Sanctuaries Act The NMSA provides authority or comprehensiveand coordinated conservation and managemento national marine sanctuaries, and activities

aecting them, in a manner which complementsexisting regulatory authorities. NOAA developsregulations or each sanctuary that are responsiveto their specifc issues , needs and goals. For

more inormation visit www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.

 gov/protect/regulations/welcome .html.

Contributors  to these guidelines

include NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program, NOAAFisheries Service Ofce o Protected Resources, National

Park Ser vice, US Fish and Wildlie Service, Watchable Wildlie,

Inc., International Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society,Wildlie Conservation Society, and a number o state and

regional agencies, organizations, and institutions.

The following guidelines  are intended to help

you enjoy watching marine wildlie

without causing them harm or placing

your personal saety at risk.

Please note that these are general

guidelines, and it is best to ollow

location or species-specifc guidelines i 

they are available.

It’s as easy asknowing basic 

Ocean Etiquette

For more inormation on the simple things you can do

to protect our marine lie visit 

sanctuaries.noaa.gov/protect/

oceanetiquette.html

and

 www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/

viewing.htm

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act The MBTA prohibits the pursuit, take, capture,kill, sale, purchase, or transport o migratorybirds and their parts (including eggs, nests, andeathers) or attempt to engage in such conduct.

For more inormation, please consult the texto the MBTA at www.ws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/treatlaw.html