# § 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 has gear, rope, line, net, or other material wrapped around or attached to the marine mammal and is—
**(A)** on lands under the jurisdiction of the United States, including beaches and shorelines; or
**(B)** in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, including any navigable waters.
**(2)** Except as used in section 1421f–1 of this title, the term “Fund” means the Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event Fund established by section 1421d(a) of this title.
**(3)** The term “Health MAP” means the Marine Mammal Health Monitoring and Analysis Platform established under section 1421f–2(a)(1) of this title.
**(4)** The term “Observation System” means the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System established under section 3603 of title 33.
**(5)** The term “Office” means the Office of Protected Resources, in the National Marine Fisheries Service.
**(6)** The term “stranding” means an event in the wild in which—
**(A)** a marine mammal is dead and is—
**(i)** on a beach or shore of the United States; or
**(ii)** in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States (including any navigable waters); or
**(B)** a marine mammal is alive and is—
**(i)** on a beach or shore of the United States and unable to return to the water;
**(ii)** on a beach or shore of the United States 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 (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 who is authorized by an agreement under section 1382(c) of this title to take marine mammals as described in section 1379(h)(1) of this title in response to a stranding.
**(8)** The term “Tissue Bank” means the National Marine Tissue Bank provided for under section 1421f(a) of this title.
**(9)** The term “unusual mortality event” means a stranding that—
**(A)** is unexpected;
**(B)** involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and
**(C)** demands immediate response.
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**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.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2022—Par. (1). , added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).
Par. (2). , substituted “Except as used in , the term” for “The term”.
, redesignated par. (1) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (5).
Pars. (3) to (9). , (4), added pars. (3) and (4) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (6) as (5) to (9), respectively.
1994—Par. (1). , made technical amendment to reference to to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.
Par. (5). , made technical amendment to reference to to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.