ProtectionLawSummaries

Thereareseverallawsthathavebeenadoptedtoregulatetheimport,export,andsaleofwildlife.Therearealsolawsthatprotectspeciesfromvariousformsofinhumanetreatment,includingcapturingandkilling.

ThefollowingsummariesweretakenfromtheUSFish&WildlifeService,DivisionofLawEnforcement.

BaldandGoldenEagleProtectionAct(16668-668C)

ThisActmakesitillegaltoimport,export,ortakebaldorgoldeneagles,ortosell,purchase,orbartertheirparts,orproductsmadefromthem,includingtheirnestsoreggs.

MigratoryBirdTreatyAct(16703-712)

Exceptasallowedbyimplementingregulations,thisActmakesitunlawfultopursue,hunt,kill,capture,possess,buy,sell,purchase,orbarteranymigratorybird,includingthefeathersorotherparts,nests,eggs,ormigratorybirdproducts.

LaceyAct(1842;163371-3378)

ThisActprovidesauthoritytotheSecretaryoftheInteriortodesignateinjuriouswildlifeandensurethehumanetreatmentofwildlifeshippedtotheUnitedStates.Further,itprohibitstheimportation,exportation,transportation,sale,orpurchaseoffishandwildlifetakenorpossessedinviolationofState,Federal,Indiantribal,andforeignlaws.TheAmendmentsstrengthenandimprovetheenforcementofFederalwildlifelawsandimproveFederalassistancetotheStatesandforeigngovernmentsintheenforcementoftheirwildlifelaws.Also,theactprovidesanimportanttoolintheefforttogaincontrolofsmugglingandtradeinillegallytakenfishandwildlife.

MarineMammalProtectionAct(161361-1407)

ThisActestablishesamoratoriumonthetakingandimportationofmarinemammals,includingpartsandproducts,anddefinesFederalresponsibilityforconservationofmarinemammals,withmanagementauthorityvestedintheDepartmentoftheInteriorfortheseaotter,walrus,polarbear,dugong,andmanatee.

AirborneHuntingAct(16742j-1)

Section13oftheFishandWildlifeActof1956iscommonlyreferredtoastheAirborneHuntingAct,orShootingFromAircraftAct,andprohibitstakingorharassingwildlifefromaircraft,exceptwhenprotectingwildlife,livestock,andhumanhealthorsafety,asauthorizedbyaFederal-orState-issuedlicenseorpermit.

NationalWildlifeRefugeSystemAdministrationActof1966(16668dd-668ee)

ThisActconstitutesan"OrganicAct"fortheNationalWildlifeRefugeSystembyprovidingguidelinesanddirectivesforadministrationandmanagementofallareasinthesystemincluding"wildliferefuges,areasfortheprotectionandconservationoffishandwildlifethatarethreatenedwithextinction,wildliferanges,gameranges,wildlifemanagementareas,orwaterfowlproductionareas."

EndangeredSpeciesAct(161531-1543)

ThisActprohibitstheimportation,exportation,taking,andcommercializationininterstateorforeigncommerceoffishandwildlife,andplantsthatarelistedasthreatenedorendangeredspecies.TheActalsoimplementstheprovisionsoftheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora(CITES).

AntarcticConservationAct(162401)

ThepurposeoftheActistoprovidefortheconservationandprotectionofthefaunaandfloraofAntarcticaandoftheecosystemuponwhichsuchfaunaandfloradepend.TheprimaryprohibitionsoftheActmakeitunlawfulforanyUnitedStatescitizentotakeanynativebirdormammalinAntarcticaortocollectanynativeplantfromanyspeciallyprotectedareawithinAntarctica.Inaddition,theActmakesitunlawfulforanyUnitedStatescitizenoranyforeignpersonintheUnitedStatestopossess,sell,offerforsale,deliver,receive,carry,transport,import,export,orattempttoimportorexportfromtheUnitedStatesanynativemammalorbirdtakeninAntarcticaoranyplantcollectedinanyspeciallyprotectedarea.

AfricanElephantConservationAct(164201-4245)

ThepurposeoftheActistoprovideadditionalprotectionfortheAfricanelephant.TheActestablishesanassistanceprogramtoelephantproducingcountriesofAfricaandprovidesfortheestablishmentofanAfricanElephantConservationFund.Inaddition,theActplacesamoratoriumontheimportationofraworworkedivoryfromAfricanelephantproducingcountriesthatdonotmeetcertaincriteriafoundintheAct.

WildBirdConservationActof1992(164901)

Theactpromotestheconservationofexoticbirdsbyencouragingwildbirdconservationandmanagementprogramsincountriesoforigin;byensuringthatalltradeinsuchspecies