AWI seeks to prevent inhumane and ecologically harmful commercial exploitation of marine species and destruction and degradation of their habitats. In furtherance of these efforts, we engage directly with policymakers at the state, federal, and international levels and regularly provides public comments, testimony, and similar input to legislative and administrative bodies. Examples of such input can be found below.
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service on an Application by Mystic Aquarium to Import Five Live Beluga Whales from MarineLand in Canada (December 2019)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service on an Application by Chicago Zoological Society to Import Live Bottlenose Dolphins (May 2019)
- Letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada Regarding Entanglement Risk Reduction Measures to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales (November 2018)
- AWI's Submission to the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee Sustainable Seas Review (May 2018)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service on 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Identify the Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Turtle as a Distinct Population Segment and List It as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act (February 2018)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service on proposed rule to list the chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (December 2017)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service on Proposed Endangered Listing Determination for the Taiwanese humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (August 2017)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service on its Notice of receipt of application for a Letter of Authorization from the United States Air Force, 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting munitions testing for their Long Range Strike Weapons Systems Evaluation Program over the course of five years, from September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2022 (February 2017)
- Comments to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) regarding the proposed certification of the North and South Atlantic Spanish Swordfish fishery (November 2016)
- Comments to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) regarding the Chain of Custody (CoC) Public Consultation (September 2016)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on 90-day finding on petition to list the Taiwanese humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (July 2016)
- Comments submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to amend the regulations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) concerning the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of marine mammals in captivity (May 2016)
- Comments submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service on proposed rule and 12-month finding indicating its intention to downlist the West Indian manatee from endangered to threatened (April 2016)
- Comments to National Marine Fisheries Service Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Sea Turtle Conservation and Recovery Actions in Relation to the Southeastern United States Shrimp Fishery and To Conduct Public Scoping Comments (April 2016)
- Protection Sought for Critically Endangered Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin (March 2016)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on 90-day finding on petition to list the thorny skate as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (December 2015)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on the draft environmental impact statement on the Makah Tribe request to hunt gray whales (July 2015)
- Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Thorny Skates (May 2015)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on proposed rule to remove the exclusion for captive members of the southern resident killer whale distinct population segment (March 2014)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on proposed rule regarding large whale take reduction plan regulations (September 2013)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on 90-day finding on a petition to include the killer whale known as Lolita in the Endangered Species Act Listing of Sothern Resident Killer Whales (June 2013)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on implementation of the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (June 2013)
- Comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on proposed endangered, threatened, and not warranted listing determinations for six distinct population segments of scalloped hammerhead sharks under the Endangered Species Act (June 2013)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the import of 18 wild-caught beluga whales from Russia (October 2012)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to address Shark Conservation (August 2012)
- Comments to the Navy on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (July 2012)
- Comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the Amendment 7 Scoping – Management Recommendations for the US Surface Longline Fishery (July 2012)
- Comments to National Marine Fisheries Service on proposed rule to withdraw the alternative tow time restriction and require all skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets rigged for fishing to use turtle excluder devices (July 2012)
- Comments to National Marine Fisheries Service on 90-Day Finding on Petition to List the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (January 2012)
- Comments to National Marine Fisheries Service on Draft Recovery Plan for the Sei Whale (September 2011)
- Comments to National Marine Fisheries Service on Proposed National Policy for Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injuries of Marine Mammals (August 2011)