Prohibitions

Except as provided in sections 1371, 1373, 1374, 1379, 1381, 1383, 1383a, and 1387 of this title and subchapter V, it is unlawful— except as expressly provided for by an international treaty, convention, or agreement to which the United States is a party and which was entered into before the effective date of this subchapter or by any statute implementing any such treaty, convention, or agreement— for any person to transport, purchase, sell, export, or offer to purchase, sell, or export any marine mammal or marine mammal product— Except pursuant to a permit for scientific research, or for enhancing the survival or recovery of a species or stock, issued under section 1374(c) of this title, it is unlawful to import into the United States any marine mammal if such mammal was— It is unlawful to import into the United States any of the following: Any marine mammal which was— Any marine mammal product if— Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply— This chapter shall not apply with respect to any marine mammal taken before the effective date of this chapter, or to any marine mammal product consisting of, or composed in whole or in part of, any marine mammal taken before such date. It is unlawful for any person or vessel or other conveyance to take any species of whale incident to commercial whaling in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.