Biological Opinion on the Issuance of Incidental Harassment Authorization to Shell for the Non-Lethal Taking of Whales and Seals in Conjunction with Planned Exploration Drilling Activities During 2015

Proposed issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals only by harassment pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act incidental to conducting a marine exploration drilling program in the Chukchi Sea during the 2015 Arctic open-water season. The IHA would be effective from July 1 to October 31, 2015. The consulting agency for this proposal is NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Region. This document represents NOAA Fisheries’ biological opinion on the effects of this proposal on endangered and threatened species and critical habitat.

The proposed action has the potential to affect:

• the endangered bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)
• the endangered fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
• the endangered humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
• the endangered right whale (Eubalaena japonica)
• the endangered western Steller sea lion (Eumatopias jubatus) distinct population segment (DPS)
• the threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seal (Phoca hispida hispida),
• the Beringia DPS of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus barbatus)
• the designated critical habitats for North Pacific right whale and Steller sea lion.

Action Agency: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources – Permits and Conservation Division