Biological Opinion NMFS Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division, Ketchikan Berth III Moorings, Ketchikan, Alaska

NMFS Consultation Number: AKRO-2024-02671

This opinion considers the effects of a proposed action by the City of Ketchikan (COK) to install three new mooring dolphins to accommodate larger cruise ships at Ketchikan Cruise Port Berth III in Tongass Narrows, southeastern Alaska. The proposed action would address the increased demand from the cruise industry to accommodate larger class cruise ships and is necessary to provide safe moorage capacity when a Norwegian Breakaway Plus (Bliss) class cruise ship vessel, or similar, is moored at Berth III.

The action may affect endangered fin whale, threatened Mexico distinct population segment (DPS) humpback whale, and the proposed threatened sunflower sea star. There is no designated critical habitat located within the action area.

This opinion is based on information provided in the February 2025, BA submitted by PND and the IHA Application and Proposed IHA (90 FR 15957, April 16, 2025). Other sources of information relied upon include consultation communications (emails and virtual meetings), recent consultations completed in the same region, previous monitoring reports, and marine mammal surveys conducted in and around Ketchikan, Alaska. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS’s Alaska Region office.