Open Water Season

This opinion considers the effects of the issuance of an IHA to take marine mammals by harassment under the MMPA incidental to open-water seismic surveys by SAE in the nearshore waters of the the U.S. Beaufort Sea from July 1 to October 15, 2015. These actions have the potential to affect the endangered bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seal (Phoca hispida hispida), and Beringia DPS of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus).1 Although the action area overlaps with proposed ringed seal critical habitat, proposed ringed seal critical habitat is not included in this consultation because the designation is not expected to be finalized in 2015.