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Proposed changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act are alarming environmentalists and researchers.

Changes include new definitions, updated terms, and set timelines for permit reviews, which supporters say will streamline processes but opponents say will prioritize economic gain over marine life.

Two marine mammals found in N.C. waters, manatees and the North Atlantic right whale, could face increased challenges if the act is weakened.

A discussion in Congress to water down a key piece of federal legislation that has allowed marine mammals, including many found along the N.C. coast, to rebound from overhunting and loss of habitat is alarming environmentalists and the nation's research community.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act , enacted in 1972 when outrage ov

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