This is art. Maybe. Probably. Old Spice has taken it upon themselves to ask the all-important question: How many different violations of the Marine Mammal Protection act can we demonstrate in a single minute and fifteen second commercial? As it turns out, quite a few.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hteeecX1oQ
The Marine Mammal Protection Act expressly forbids the “taking” of marine mammals, a “take” being defined as:
“To harass, hunt, capture, collect, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, collect, or kill any marine mammal. This includes, without limitation, any of the following:
- the collection of dead animals, or parts thereof
- the restraint or detention of a marine mammal, no matter how temporary
- tagging a marine mammal
- the negligent or intentional operation of an aircraft or vessel
- the doing of any other negligent or intentional act which results in disturbing or molesting a marine mammal
- feeding or attempting to feed a marine mammal in the wild.”
Broadly, this include any actions that may interfere with a marine mammal’s behavior or cause it undue stress. Fines can be… severe.
1. Standing on top of a Sperm Whale requires a dangerously close approach. The MMPA forbids intentionally approaching within 300 feet of a large whale. Closer encounters are possible if the vessel is not under power and the whale approaches the vessel, but in order to load a sperm whale up with an actor or camera crew, a powered vessel would certainly have to make an intentionally close approach and come in contact with the animal. Don’t do this. Fines can be up to $20,000 and 1 year in jail, plus the seizure of any vessels used for the approach.
2. For that matter, you can’t stand on a whale. Even a dead one. This almost certainly will cause significant stress and alter the whale’s behavior. Whales are pretty big animals and standing on a live one can easily result in your own death. Dead whales are festering incubators for a ton of nasty bacteria which can make you extremely sick. Fines are the same as above, but the whale will probably take care of you first.
3. Filling a Sperm Whale’s blowhole with baseballs is frowned upon. In addition to the obvious harassment, this is the whale equivalent of waterboarding or worse. The animal could drown, and you will definitely end up in jail.
4. Commercial photography of protect marine mammals requires a permit. If you want to make a close approach to take commercial or educational photographs of whale, which can be done, you need to apply for a permit. As it is inconceivable that the Marine Mammal Commission would issue a permit to whack tennis balls off the back of a Moby Dick, these photographers are in violation and may find all their cameras confiscated.
5. Operating an aircraft around marine mammals can be problematic. I’ve gotten pretty good at spotting drone footage. Aircraft, drones included, must maintain at least 1000 feet of altitude above a marine mammal. Drones, of course, aren’t permitted to fly higher than 400 feet. So this one is a double whammy, since there’s currently no legal way to operate a drone near marine mammals. You’re either in violation of the MMPA or the FAA. Either way, the government now owns your drones.
6. Putting sunglasses on a whale. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Also, those frames don’t come anywhere close to a Sperm Whale’s eyes.
Bonus: Disposal of trash at sea. The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships expressly the discharge of plastics anywhere in the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone. This includes the polymers used in tennis balls and some baseballs.
Hopefully, the next time you decide to go on a whale-riding, ball-slinging, sunglasses-wearing adventure, consider observing these incredible animals from a respectful distance.
The blowhole is in the wrong spot, too. There’s a good photo here http://www.oceanicresearch.org/education/wonders/spermwhales.htm
“For that matter, you can’t stand on a whale”
Thanks, Obama.
Okay, a few small points.
Alter its behaviour – when its dead!? Are these zombie /vampire whales or something? If so, I’d be much more worried by having, y’know, zombie or vampire whales loose than whether standing on it will alter its behaviour or not!
Er, don’t a lot of scientists tag whales for research and don’t a lot of museums collect and display, for instance, whale skeletons and do research on whale carcasses to determine what killed them and learn more about them? I would’ve thought both tagging and collecting / studying dead whales was okay at least in certain circumstances. (Is this something okay with permit or by certain organisations but not everyone?
Also what about Japanese and Icelandic whaling – clearly that’s a violation here but it certainly happens and they argue (okay probably dubiously) that its legal for them so .. are they in violation of the law here and how do they get away with it? Not that they should, I’ll stress I think whaling is wrong and shouldn’t be allowed. Just, how does that fit with / under this act?
Finally, um, really? Its an advert and I’m pretty sure its CGI so, yeah, I wouldn’t worry about this too much here! Informative article though.
Ah, and now of course I read the disclaimer! Well, I guess you got me~ish. I must admit I didn’t really think you ever thought the whale was real but still. Too deadpan for me.
Well, you can do all of it outside of the territorial waters…
Even dead whales: How to protect yourself from Zombie Dolphins without violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act
Researchers working with whales and other marine mammals have to go through an extensive permitting process.
The Japanese and Icelanders are not beholden to the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, though they are signatories to the International Whaling Convention.
US citizens are still subject to federal law when on the high seas.
Yes, but that doesn’t apply to everything. For example, FAA has absolutely no jurisdiction outside of the US airspace, so no drone regulations apply outside of the territorial waters. I’m not sure how it applies to the MMPA.
This is not correct. If you have a US-registered aircraft in international waters, you are still subject to federal regulation. If you are a citizen of the United States, you are still subject to federal law on the high seas.