Alaska Harbor Fix Gets Okay Despite Upset Seals
Published Date: 5/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The City of Unalaska got the green light to replace Harbor Floats A&B, which might accidentally bother some local marine mammals. This project runs for one year starting April 30, 2026, and includes rules to keep marine life safe while the work happens. It’s a win-win: improving the harbor without hurting the animals or local subsistence activities.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
City cleared to replace harbor floats
If you live or work in Unalaska, the City of Unalaska received an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that allows the Robert Storrs Harbor Floats A&B Replacement Project to proceed. The authorization is effective April 30, 2026 and lasts up to one year, and the project must follow required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures while work occurs.
Subsistence access and listed species safeguarded
If you rely on marine mammals for subsistence in Unalaska, NMFS authorized incidental take of marine mammals (including the Western DPS of Steller sea lions and Mexico and Western North Pacific DPS of humpback whale) but found the authorized taking will have a negligible impact and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species for subsistence uses. NMFS also concluded the action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of those listed DPSs.
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