Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Ice Exercise Activities 2022 (ICEX22) in the Arctic Ocean

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during submarine training and testing activities including establishment of a tracking range on an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean, north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The Navy’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA).