Biological Opinion (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR), Narwhal, LLC Exploration Activities in West Harrison Bay, Beaufort Sea, Alaska
July 31, 2025
This opinion considers the effects of Narwhal’s oil and gas exploration activities, including marine shallow hazard surveys, construction and operation of sea ice trails/roads, airstrips, pads, support operations, and the proposed issuance of an IHA.
NMFS Consultation Number: AKRO-2025-03603
This opinion considers the effects of Narwhal’s oil and gas exploration activities, including marine shallow hazard surveys, construction and operation of sea ice trails/roads, airstrips, and pads, and support operations, and the associated proposed issuance of an IHA.
The action may affect the endangered bowhead whale, threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seal and its critical habitat, and threatened Beringia DPS bearded seal and its critical habitat
This opinion and concurrence is based on information provided in the proposed IHA (90 FR 21182, May 16, 2025), associated draft environmental assessment (NMFS 2025), and Narwhal’s April 2025 revised IHA application for the proposed oil and gas exploration activities (Narwhal 2025). Other sources of information relied upon include consultation communications (emails and virtual meetings), targeted studies, stock assessment reports, and previous monitoring reports. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS’s Juneau, Alaska office.