Congressman Begich Advocates for Equal Marine Mammal Safeguards in Alaska
In July 2025, a draft bill sponsored by Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) aimed at amending the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was introduced. The proposed changes seek to balance marine mammal protection with the economic needs of coastal communities, particularly in Alaska, by scaling down the scope of the MMPA, raising the threshold for federal protection actions, increasing allowable incidental take, and streamlining permitting requirements [1][2][4].
Key aspects of the draft bill include raising allowable limits on incidental take, even for critically endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale [3]. It also proposes making permitting more efficient to encourage geoscience investment and development, addressing criticisms that past MMPA regulations were overly expansive and burdensome [2][4]. The bill also scales back government authority to intervene in marine mammal protection, potentially limiting protections for whales, dolphins, seals, and polar bears [4].
The bill is positioned as crucial to advancing energy policies, notably enabling increased offshore drilling and resource extraction [1][3]. However, opinions on the draft bill vary widely. Supporters, such as industry groups like SAExploration, argue that the MMPA has been over-interpreted and that the bill corrects flaws, improves permitting efficiency, and supports economic investment without abandoning protection [2].
On the other hand, environmental groups and biologists express serious concerns. They warn that the bill could undermine protections, risk irreparable harm, and escalate extinction risks for vulnerable species [2][3][4]. For example, the Alaska Whale Foundation highlights the risks of streamlining complex permitting and delayed harm detection [2]. Marine mammal rescue organizations, such as the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, caution that rollbacks threaten animal survival and reflect a broader agenda prioritizing oil and gas industries over wildlife conservation [3].
Democratic lawmakers criticize the bill as an attempt to weaken a vital, decades-old environmental law for special interests, promising to oppose it vigorously [1][4]. As of mid-2025, the bill remains a discussion draft undergoing debate in a House Natural Resources subcommittee, not a finalized law. The process is contentious, with sharp partisan divides and broad scrutiny by environmental advocates and industry alike [1][4].
EnerGeo Alliance, a trade association representing the geoscience industry, has not publicly stated its position on this draft bill. However, given their focus on geological and seismic surveys for wind, oil and gas, and other industries seeking to mount offshore developments, it is plausible that their stance might be aligned with supporting regulatory reform to reduce permitting burdens, though this is an inference rather than an explicit fact from the results.
The MMPA is generally administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) inside the Department of Commerce, while the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at the Interior Department. The proposed amendment to the MMPA is in line with the Trump administration's goal of streamlining federal permitting processes to speed development of domestic energy resources [1].
However, any changes to the MMPA that could lead to major harms to protected species would likely result in an inevitable backlash. Kathleen Collins, Senior Marine Campaign Manager, International Fund for Animal Welfare, warned that if the bill is passed, it could lead to the harm of thousands of marine mammals and alter the ocean ecosystem [1]. Cooper Freeman, Alaska Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, warned that if Begich's bill passes, it would make marine mammal species more vulnerable to injury and death [1].
The hearing was held by the House Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee on July 22, 2020. Forrest Burkholder, President and CEO of SAExploration, testified on behalf of EnerGeo Alliance during the hearing [1]. Harriet Hageman, who chairs the subcommittee, said the discussion draft will make vital reforms to the MMPA [1].
The draft bill faces a challenging road ahead, with concerns from both environmentalists and lawmakers. The outcome of the debate remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the proposed amendments to the MMPA are generating intense debate and could have significant implications for marine mammal protection and energy development.
- Nick Begich's draft bill, introduced in July 2025, proposes changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that include raising allowable limits on incidental take, even for endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale, and making permitting more efficient to encourage geoscience investment and development.
- The draft bill's opponents, including environmental groups and biologists, warn that it could undermine protections, risk irreparable harm, and escalate extinction risks for vulnerable marine mammal species. They argue that it reflects a broader agenda prioritizing oil and gas industries over wildlife conservation.
- The proposed changes to the MMPA are positioned as crucial to advancing energy policies, particularly enabling increased offshore drilling and resource extraction, but the outcome of the debate on the bill remains uncertain, generating intense debate and potentially significant implications for marine mammal protection and energy development.
