DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
1000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20350-1000
SECNAVINST 3900.41H
ASN (RD&A)
10 OCT 2018
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 3900.41H
From: Secretary of the Navy
Subj: ACQUISITION, TRANSPORT, CARE, AND TREATMENT OF NAVY
MARINE MAMMALS
Ref: (a) 16 U.S.C. §1361 et seq.
(b) 10 U.S.C. §7524
(c) 7 U.S.C. §2131 et seq.
(d) SECNAVINST 3900.38C
(e) SECDEF memo Use of Marine Mammals for National Defense
Purposes of 1 Dec 1986
1. Purpose. To revise policies and procedures governing the
acquisition, transport, care, and treatment of Navy marine
mammals by, within, or for the naval establishment. This is a
complete revision and should be read in its entirety.
2. Cancellation.
SECNAVINST 3900.41G.
3. Applicability. This instruction applies to all personnel,
both military and civilian, of the Department of the Navy (DON)
and to all projects that involve the acquisition, transport,
care, and treatment of Navy marine mammals.
4. Definitions
a. The term “marine mammal” as defined in reference (a),
and implemented through reference (b), includes those specimens
of the following orders: Cetacea (whales, dolphins, and
porpoises) and Pinnipedia (seals and sea lions).
b. The term “take” is defined in reference (a), and
implemented through reference (b), is limited to the collection
of wild marine mammals for national defense purposes.
c. The term “humane” as defined in reference (a), and
implemented through reference (b), in the context of the taking,
