Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to issue Fairweather, LLC, an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to an anchor retrieval program in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, Alaska.
Fairweather proposes to retrieve anchor equipment left by Shell Offshore, Inc., during its 2012 and 2015 exploration drilling programs in the U.S. Chukchi and Beaufort seas. The proposed activity would occur between July 1 and October 31, 2016. Noise generated from anchor handling activities and the vessel’s dynamic positioning thrusters could impact marine mammals in the vicinity of the activities.
Take, by Level B harassments, of individuals of eight species of marine mammals may result from the specified activity. Fairweather’s proposed anchor retrieval activity is planned for the 2016 open-water season (July through October, 2016).
NMFS must receive any comments and information on thus IHA no later than June 20, 2016
Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice of this proposed action.
