Biological Opinion U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Unalaska Bay Bar Reduction Project, Iliuliuk Bay, Alaska

This opinion considers the effects of dredging, blasting, and vessel
transit, and the associated proposed issuance of an IHA, on the endangered North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), threatened Mexico distinct population segment (DPS) and endangered Western North Pacific (WNP) DPS humpback whale (Megatera novaeangliae), endangered blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), endangered fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), endangered sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), endangered sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), endangered WNP DPS gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), endangered Southern Resident DPS killer whale (Orcinus orca), endangered Western DPS Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), proposed-threatened sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), and designated critical habitat for the Mexico DPS and WNP DPS humpback whale, Southern Resident DPS killer whale, and Steller sea lion. There is no designated
critical habitat for the North Pacific right whale in the action area.

The proposed action involves the dredging and possible blasting of a terminal moraine bar within Iliuliuk Bay, Alaska, which is restricting access to Dutch Harbor. 

This opinion is based on information provided in the IHA application (USACE 2022), the proposed IHA (88 FR 21630, April 11, 2023), and the submitted Biological Assessment (BA) (USACE 2023). 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 the Aleutian Islands. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS’s Anchorage, Alaska office.