### Question
Can you define what strategic stock means?


### Answer
**Strategic stock** is defined as the following in *16 U.S.C. § 1362*:

> a marine mammal stock—


(A) for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the potential biological removal level

#### Citation:
  - *16 U.S.C. § 1362*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 31-MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION > SUBCHAPTER I-GENERALLY**

