Marine Mammal Commission

The Marine Mammal Commission is not, as the name might cause you to imagine, a group of seals, whales, and dolphins sitting around a conference table discussing how to improve life in the ocean.  It's actually "an independent agency of the U.S. Government, established...to provide independent oversight of the marine mammal conservation policies and programs being carried out by federal regulatory agencies." One of the many useful things on the Commission's website is information about the different species that fall within their purview:

http://www.mmc.gov/species/welcome.shtml

So, you can check on the status of the Steller Sea Lion or the Beluga Whale without ever getting your feet wet.