---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1421f"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1421f"
heading: "National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank and tissue analysis"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1421f"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — Marine Mammal Protection"
  - "Subchapter V — Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response"
---

# §1421f. National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank and tissue analysis

- (a) **Tissue Bank—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall make provision for the storage, preparation, examination, and archiving of [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) tissues. Tissues archived pursuant to this subsection shall be known as the “National [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [Tissue Bank](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=8)”.
  - (2) **Guidance for marine mammal tissue collection, preparation, and archiving—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall, in consultation with individuals with knowledge and expertise in marine science, [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) science, [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) veterinary and husbandry practices, and marine [conservation](/usc/16/1362.md?p=2), issue guidance, after an opportunity for public review and comment, for [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) tissue collection, preparation, archiving, and quality control procedures, regarding—
    - (A) appropriate and uniform methods and standards for those activities to provide confidence in [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) tissue samples used for research; and
    - (B) documentation of procedures used for collecting, preparing, and archiving those samples.
  - (3) **Source of tissue—** In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to tissues taken during [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [unusual mortality events](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=9), the [Tissue Bank](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=8) shall incorporate tissue samples taken from other sources in the wild, including—
    - (A) samples from [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) taken incidental to commercial fishing operations;
    - (B) samples from [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) taken for subsistence purposes;
    - (C) biopsy samples; and
    - (D) any other samples properly collected.
- (b) **Tissue analysis—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall, in consultation with the [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of the Interior, and individuals with knowledge and experience in marine science, [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) science, [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) veterinary and husbandry practices, and marine [conservation](/usc/16/1362.md?p=2), issue guidance, after an opportunity for public review and comment, for analyzing tissue samples (by use of the most effective and advanced diagnostic technologies and tools practicable) as a means to monitor and measure overall health trends in representative species or populations of [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6), including—
  - (1) the levels of, and if possible, the effects of, potentially harmful contaminants; and
  - (2) the frequency of, and if possible, the causes and effects of abnormal lesions or anomalies.
- (c) **Data base—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall maintain a central data base which provides an effective means for tracking and accessing data on [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6), including relevant data on [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) tissues collected for and maintained in the [Tissue Bank](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=8).
  - (2) **Contents—** The data base established under this subsection shall include—
    - (A) reference data on [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) health and mortality and the health of populations of [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6); and
    - (B) data on species of [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) that are subject to [unusual mortality events](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=9).
- (d) **Access—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of the Interior, establish criteria, after an opportunity for public review and comment, for public access to—
  - (1) [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) tissues in the [Tissue Bank](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=8);
  - (2) analyses conducted pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b); and
  - (3) [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) data in the data base maintained under [subsection (c)](#c);

  which provide for appropriate uses of the tissues, analyses, and data by qualified scientists, including [stranding network participants](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=7).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–522, title IV, § 407, formerly title III, § 307, as added Pub. L. 102–587, title III, § 3003(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5065; renumbered title IV, § 407, Pub. L. 103–238, § 24(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 565; amended Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CIV, § 10405, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3984.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10405(1), substituted “marine mammal health and mortality and the health of” for “the health of marine mammals and”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10405(2), inserted “public” before “access” in introductory provisions.