Oceana Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Protection of Marine Mammals

Republican voters in Ohio – a bellwether state for everything from political elections to consumer products -- overwhelmingly declared their support for protection of the oceans and its marine mammal inhabitants in a new poll sponsored by Oceana. The survey of 500 likely voters found that 90 percent agree that it is important to protect both the health of the oceans and marine mammals, such as dolphins and whales. And, more than three-quarters of those surveyed believe that the U.S. Congress has a responsibility to protect the oceans as well as the marine mammals that live there.

The poll also found broad support (79%) for the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a landmark statute enacted by Congress more than 30 years ago to protect dolphins and whales from harm by human activities, and in particular, for the part of that law requiring commercial fishing operations to reduce their catch, injury, and kill of marine mammals (76%).

Ironically, these findings come at the same time that the Marine Mammal Protection Act is under attack by some members of Congress. H.R. 4075, sponsored by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) would eliminate the “Dolphin Deadline” and weaken other existing provisions in the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Consideration of these proposals by the U.S. House of Representatives is expected prior to the August Congressional Recess, which begins July 31.

(The poll of 500 likely Republican voters in Ohio was conducted from June 22-25, 2006 by the polling company, inc. The margin of error is +/- 4.38.)

• Read Oceana Poll Key Findings
• Read Oceana Poll
• Read Fact Sheet on MMPA Legislation