April 21, 2026
Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, purchase, and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments, and art produced from, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters that are taken for subsistence purposes.
Section 1. Transport, purchase, and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments, and art produced from Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters taken for subsistence purposes
Section 102 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1372) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(g) Sea otter pelts and products
Nothing in this Act prohibits—
(1)
the transport, purchase, sale of, or any offer to purchase or sell, any pelt of an otter from the Southcentral or Southeast Alaska stock of northern sea otters that is taken for subsistence purposes in accordance with section 101(b)(1); or
(2)
the transport, purchase, sale, export of, or any offer to purchase, sell or export, any handicraft, garment, or art that is produced from the pelt of the Southcentral or Southeast Alaska stock of northern sea otters that is taken for subsistence purposes in accordance with section 101(b)(1), regardless of whether the handicraft, garment, or art—
(A)
is traditional or contemporary; or
(B)
is or is not altered significantly.