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

# §1421h. Definitions


In this subchapter, the following definitions apply:

- (1) The term “entangle” or “entanglement” means an event in the wild in which a living or dead [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) has gear, rope, line, net, or other material wrapped around or attached to the [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) and is—
  - (A) on lands under the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14), including beaches and shorelines; or
  - (B) in [waters under the jurisdiction of the United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=15), including any navigable waters.
- (2) Except as used in [section 1421f–1 of this title](/usc/16/1421f–1.md), the term “Fund” means the [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [Unusual Mortality Event](#9) Fund established by [section 1421d(a) of this title](/usc/16/1421d.md?p=a).
- (3) The term “Health MAP” means the [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) Health Monitoring and Analysis Platform established under [section 1421f–2(a)(1) of this title](/usc/16/1421f–2.md?p=a-1).
- (4) The term “Observation System” means the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System established under [section 3603 of title 33](/usc/33/3603.md).
- (5) The term “Office” means the Office of Protected Resources, in the National Marine [Fisheries](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16) Service.
- (6) The term “stranding” means an event in the wild in which—
  - (A) a [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) is dead and is—
    - (i) on a beach or shore of the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14); or
    - (ii) in [waters under the jurisdiction of the United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=15) (including any navigable waters); or
  - (B) a [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) is alive and is—
    - (i) on a beach or shore of the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14) and unable to return to the water;
    - (ii) on a beach or shore of the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14) and, although able to return to the water, is in need of apparent medical attention; or
    - (iii) in the [waters under the jurisdiction of the United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=15) (including any navigable waters), but is unable to return to its natural habitat under its own power or without assistance.
- (7) The term “stranding network participant” means a [person](/usc/16/1362.md?p=10) who is authorized by an agreement under [section 1382(c) of this title](/usc/16/1382.md?p=c) to [take](/usc/16/1362.md?p=13) [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) as described in [section 1379(h)(1) of this title](/usc/16/1379.md?p=h-1) in response to a [stranding](#6).
- (8) The term “Tissue Bank” means the National Marine Tissue Bank provided for under [section 1421f(a) of this title](/usc/16/1421f.md?p=a).
- (9) The term “unusual mortality event” means a [stranding](#6) that—
  - (A) is unexpected;
  - (B) involves a significant die-off of any [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) population; and
  - (C) demands immediate response.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–522, title IV, § 410, formerly title III, § 309, as added Pub. L. 102–587, title III, § 3003(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5066; renumbered title IV, § 409, and amended Pub. L. 103–238, § 24(b), (c)(7), (8), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 565, 566; renumbered § 410, Pub. L. 106–555, title II, § 202(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2767; Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CIV, § 10410, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3992.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Par. (1). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10410(2), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).

Par. (2). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10410(3), substituted “Except as used in section 1421f–1 of this title, the term” for “The term”.

Pub. L. 117–263, § 10410(1), redesignated par. (1) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (5).

Pars. (3) to (9). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10410(1), (4), added pars. (3) and (4) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (6) as (5) to (9), respectively.

1994—Par. (1). Pub. L. 103–238, § 24(c)(7), made technical amendment to reference to section 1421d(a) of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 103–238, § 24(c)(8), made technical amendment to reference to section 1421f(a) of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.