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HR 261 102th Congress House Animals Dolphins Environmental Protection Fishing boats Foreign fishing International fishery management Licenses Marine mammal protection Pacific Ocean Research and development Tuna fisheries

Dolphin Protection and Fair Fishing Act of 1991

Introduced: January 3, 1991 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 6, 1991
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Marine Mammal Comm, State.
Feb 6, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment.
Jan 3, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Jan 3, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Dolphin Protection and Fair Fishing Act of 1991 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to prohibit, with regard to fishing for yellowfin tuna, promulgation of regulations or issuance of permits allowing the intentional setting of purse seine nets on marine mammals. Revokes previously issued permits.

Mandates observers on tuna fishing vessels in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to ensure that the taking of any marine mammal is reported to the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrtion is operating.

Modifies requirements regarding: (1) the level of incidental taking of marine mammals by countries exporting to the United States and by U.S. vessels; and (2) the total take of dolphins in specified years.

Authorizes appropriations for research and development of alternative tuna fishing methods and technologies that do not involve intentional encirclement of dolphins or other intentional takings of marine mammals.

What's happening now February 6, 1991

Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Marine Mammal Comm, State.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 11
All 11 Democratic 9 Republican 1 Independent 1
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Apr 7, 1992
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Feb 3, 1992
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jul 11, 1991
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jun 25, 1991
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · May 29, 1991
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Apr 16, 1991
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Apr 16, 1991
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Mar 5, 1991
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Mar 5, 1991
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 5, 1991
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Feb 6, 1991
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 261: Dolphin Protection and Fair Fishing Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-261/
MLA
"H.R. 261: Dolphin Protection and Fair Fishing Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-261/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 261, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-261/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 261: Dolphin Protection and Fair Fishing Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-261/)
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