In this piece of work, I analyzed the history of the MMPA and the policy and law that preceded it. I also evaluated the present status of the MMPA, along with its associated agencies (oversight agencies such as the Marine Mammal Conservation (MMC), for example). In addition, the analysis took into consideration the two fundamental objectives of the MMPA, and used case studies and current events to determine if those objectives were being met. Current downfalls of the MMPA, such as its potential to restrict scientific progress, were also evaluated. Finally, the analysis attempted to determine what the future of the MMPA might look like - what its future success might be dependent upon, and ways that it might improve its impact. The differences between environmental law, regulation and policy were made clear in this assignment - for example, the MMPA acts as a national policy preventing insurmountable damage to marine mammal species and populations, under which laws such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act can provide a legal framework to meet policy objectives, and regulations (which are influenced by such laws) are adopted by different regulatory agencies to accomplish law and policy compliance.