Lois Harwood
Lois joined the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in Inuvik, NT in spring 1992, and has now lived and worked in the Arctic for more than 30 years. Based in the north, she has been ideally positioned to work closely with Indigenous harvesters and land claim co-management committees throughout her career. Mutual respect and collection and inclusion of indigenous perspectives in meaningful ways has been a cornerstone of her program delivery across decades.
Lois coordinated and conducted a range of fish and marine mammal programs, including ecological inventories, baselines, stock assessments, harvest monitoring and mitigation of industry impacts. Her work always involved collaboration with Indigenous partners, and where relevant, also oil and gas (including seismic) industry operators, regulators and other researchers, regionally, nationally and internationally. Her key role has been to oversee scientific design, analysis and reporting of many projects delivered locally, in both marine and freshwater habitats. Projects delivered with Indigenous partners were completed across multiple trophic levels, habitats, seasons and years, many relating to developments and assessments (e.g., Inuvik Tuk Highway, Tuk Harbour, Beaufort Seismic).
In August 2016, Lois was a guest lecturer on the inaugural voyage of the Crystal Serenity through the Northwest Passage. In 2016, she was on assignment to the DFO’s Oceans Management group, working on Marine Protected Areas in the Western Arctic. In August 2019, she started an assignment with the Arctic Region of DFO, to contribute to the development of a framework to formalize collection, synthesis and application of Indigenous knowledge in DFO’s research and management programs. Lois also serves as interim Canada member on the Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC), established under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, and on the Editorial Board of the Arctic Institute of North America.
Current research and/or projects
Lois’ focal area of aquatic research at DFO has been the ecology of marine mammals, and freshwater and anadromous fishes. She has designed, coordinated and published a number of long-term monitoring programs, to assess trend, status and body condition of beluga whales, ringed seals and Arctic char. She was also instrumental in the establishment and delivery of five community-based, topic specific working groups, all of which have continued some for >20 years. Her core scientific field research involved conducting aerial surveys and satellite tagging studies of bowhead whales and ringed seals to document their distribution, range and behaviour of bowhead whales and ringed seals. She has published >90 research articles, and regularly conducts peer reviews for a range of international and national scientific journals, and for the US government.
Research and/or project statements
Professional activities / interests
Beaufort Sea Beluga Technical Committtee, Original Member (1988), in support of the Inuvialuit-Inupiat Beluga Whale Commission, and previously the Alaska Inuvialuit Beluga Whale Committee
Collaborator with community harvesters, community wildlife management boards in Canada's Western Arctic, specifically FJMC and GRRB
Collaborate with other DFO sectors, in the design and implementioan of a strategy for the mitigation of impacts of seismic surveying on marine mammals in the Beaufort Sea
Coordinator, Second North American Lake Trout Symposium, 2005
Served as Committee Member for graduate students, ringed seals and bowhead whales (ecology topics)
Expert witness for Government of Canada at Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Hearings, and preparation of the Dome/Gulf/Esso EIS docs for Beaufort Sea Marine Mammals
Invited speaker, panelist, national and international meetings, peer reviews internally, nationally and internationally
Science Advisor, Prince of Wales Heritage Center beluga whale exhibit. Guest lecturer schools, radio, tv, tourism.
Guest Lecturer: NASA Earth to Sky Enrichment Course, April 2017
Guest Lecturer (independent), Polar Ecology, Crystal Serenity Inaugural Voyage Northwest Passage and West Greenland, August-September 2016
Beluga Summit in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: invited speaker, panelist, February 2016
Society for Marine Mammalogy, Biennial Marine Mammal Conferences, Dec 2015 and 2017; review abstracts, presentation.
Inupiat-Inuvialuit Polar Bear Commission meeting, presentation on ringed seals to commissions, August 2016
Inupiat-Inuvialuit Beluga Whale Commission Meeting, founding Technical Committee Member and presenter, attendance at IIBSC annually since 2006 and continuing through 2016.
Education and awards
B. Sc., University of Victoria, 1979
M. Sc. (Zoology), University of Alberta, 1989
Canada/Inuvialuit FJMC Co-management Award 2000
Queens Golden Jubilee Medal 2002
Canada/Inuvialuit FJMC Co-management Award 2003
Research Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America 2004.
US Dept. of Interior Conservation Award 2010
International experience and/or work
- Collaboratior with Alaska Dept of Fish and Game, Satellite tagging of bowhead whales in the Canadian Beaufort Sea - lead for Canadian Participation 2007-2014
- Member of the Inuvialuit-Inupiat Beluga Whale Committee, 1988 & the Invialuit-Inupiat Beluga Whale Technical Committee, in support of the II Beluga Whale Commission (2005)
- Technical reviews, NOAA - proposals to list ringed seal and ringed seal habitat, 2012 and 2015
- North Pacific Research Board and NOAA, review of project proposals
- Peer reviews for Global Change Biology, Biology Letters, Arctic Science, Arctic, Behaviour, Endangered Species Research, Oecologica, Journal of Fish Biology, Polar Biology, Deep Sea Research II, Biology Letters, Progress in Oceanography, Coastal and Ocean Management.
Additional links
- Research Gate
- Publons
Key publications
Harwood, L. A., Smith, T.G., Alikamik, J., Lea, E. V., Stirling, I., Wright, H., Melling, H., and Zhu, X. 2020. Long-term, harvest-based monitoring of ringed seal body condition and reproduction in Canada’s Western Arctic: an update through 2019. Arctic. In press. June 2020.
Gallagher, C. P., Howland, K. L., Papst, M.H., and Harwood, L. A. Harvest, catch-effort, and biological information of Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus, collected from a long-term subsistence harvest monitoring program in Tatik Lake (Kuujjua River), Northwest Territories. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2015. vi + 16 p.
Harwood, L. A., Quakenbush L. T, Small R. J, George J. C., Pokiak, J., Pokiak, C. Heide-Jørgensen M. P., and Brower H. 2017. Movements, habitat use, and inferred foraging by bowhead whales in the Canadian Beaufort Sea during August-September, 2006-2012. Arctic.
Yurkowski, D.J., M. Auger-Méthé, M. L. Mallory, S. N. P. Wong, H. G. Gilchrist, A.J. Gaston, F. Jean-Gagnon, A. E. Derocher, E. Richardson, N. J. Lunn, N. E. Hussey, A.T. Fisk, L. A. Harwood, M. P. Heide-Jørgensen, R. Dietz, A. Rosing-Asvid, E. W. Born, J. Iacozza, T. M. Brown, K. H. Westdal, J. Orr, B. LeBlanc, S. T. Kessel, P. Blanchfield, S. Davis, M. Maftei, N. Spencer, C. Anderson and S. H. Ferguson. 2019. Abundance and species diversity hotspots of tracked marine predators across the North American Arctic. Diversity and Distributions Doi 10.1111/ddi.12860
Chavarie, L. Reist, J. D., Guzzo, M. M., Harwood, L., and Power, M. 2018. Influences of environmental variation on anadromous Arctic charr from the Hornaday River, NWT. Hydrobiologica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3828-0
Harwood, L,A., Zhu, X., Angasuk, L., Emaghok, L., Ferguson, S., Gruben, C., Gruben, P., Hall, P., Illasiak, J., Illasiak, J., Inglangasuk, G., Lea, E.V., Loseto, L., Norton, P., Pokiak, C., Pokiak, F., Rogers, H., Snow, K., and Storr, W. at review. Research, monitoring and hunter knowledge in support of the 2017 assessment of the status of Eastern Beaufort Sea Beluga stock. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/nnn. vi + 16 p.
Gallagher, C., Howland, K., and Harwood, L. 2017. Harvest, catch-effort, and biological information of Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) collected from subsistence harvest monitoring programs at Hornaday River, Lasard Creek, and Tippitiuyak, Darnley Bay, Northwest Territories. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/108. v + 81 p.
Citta, J.J., S. Okkonen, L.T. Quakenbush, W. Maslowski, R. Osinski, J. C. George, R.J. Small, H. Brower, M.P. Heide-Jørgensen, and L. A. Harwood. 2017. Oceanographic characteristics associated with autumn movements of bowhead whales in the Chukchi Sea. Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography. Progress in Oceanography. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2014.08.012
Harwood, L.A., Zhu, X., Angasuk, L., Emaghok, L., Ferguson, S., Gruben, C., Gruben, P., Hall, P., Illasiak, J., Illasiak, J., Inglangasuk, G., Lea, E.V., Loseto, L., Norton, P., Pokiak, C., Pokiak, F., Rogers, H., Snow, K., and Storr, W. 2017. Research, monitoring and hunter knowledge in support of the 2017 assessment of the status of Eastern Beaufort Sea Beluga stock. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/nnn. vi + 16 p. at review
O-Corry-Crowe, G., Mahoney, A. Suydam, R. Quakenbush, L., Whiting, A., Lowry, L., Ferreira, L., Tazruk, J., Saccheus, C., and Harwood, L. 2016. Genetic profiling links changing sea ice to shifting beluga whale migration patterns. Biology Letters 12: 20160404.
Zhu, X., Gallagher, C.P., Howland, K. L., Harwood, L.A., and Tallman, R. F. 2016. Multimodel Assessment of Population Production and Recommendations for Sustainable Harvest Levels of Anadromous Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), from the Hornaday River, Northwest Territories. Canada, Stock Assessment Secretariat, Research Document 2016/116
Yurkowski, D.J., Semeniuk, C. A. D., Harwood, .LA., Asvid-Rosing, A., Dietz, R., Brown, T. M., Clackett, S. Grgicak-Mannion, A. G., Fisk, A., and Ferguson, S. H. 2016. The influence of sea ice phenology on the movement ecology of ringed seals across their latitudinal range. Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Harwood, L. A., E. V. Lea, S. A. Raverty, P.A. Hall, E. Linn, L. Postma, and O. Nielsen. 2017. Observations of beachcast Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus) in the southeastern Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf, 1987–2016. Canadian Field-Naturalist 131(3): 270–279. https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v131i3.2028
Harwood, L.A., Smith, T.G., George, J.C., Sandstrom, S.J., Wojciech, W., and Divoky, G. J. 2015. Changes in the Beaufort Sea ecosystem: diverging trends in the body condition of marine mammals, seabirds and anadromous char revealed through long-term monitoring. Progress in Oceanography. Special Issue, Synthesis of Arctic Research (SOAR). 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2015.05.003
Harwood, L. A., Smith, T. G., Auld, J. C., Melling, H. and Yurkowski, D. 2015. Seasonal movements and diving of ringed seals, Pusa hispida, in the western Canadian Arctic, 1999-2002 and 2010-2011. Arctic 68(2): 193-209.
Harwood, L. A., Kingsley, M.C.S. and Pokiak, F. 2015. Monitoring beluga harvests in the Mackenzie Delta and near Paulatuk, NT, Canada: harvest efficiency and trend, size and sex of landed whales, and reproduction: 1970 to 2009. Canadian Manuscript Report Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3059.
Citta, J. J., L. F. Lowry, L. T. Quakenbush, B.P. Kelly, A. S. Fischbach, J. M. London, C. V. Jay, K. J. Frost, G. O’Corry Crowe, J. A. Crawford, P. L. Boveng, M. Cameron, A. L. Von Duyke, M. Nelson, L. A. Harwood, P. Richard, R. Suydam, M. P. Heide-Jørgensen, R. C. Hobbs, D. I. Litovka, M. Marcoux, A. Whiting, A. S. Kennedy, J. C. George, J. Orr and T. Gray. 2018. A multi-species synthesis of satellite telemetry data in the Pacific Arctic (1987–2015): Overlap of marine mammal distributions and core use areas, Deep-Sea Research Part II, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2018.02.006
O'Corry-Crowe G., Suydam R., Quakenbush L., Potgieter B., Harwood L., Litovka D., T. Ferrer, J. Citta, V. Burkanov, K. Frost, B. Mahoney. 2018. Migratory culture, population structure and stock identity in North Pacific beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). PLoS ONE 13(3): e0194201. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0194201
Roux, M. J., Harwood, L. A., Zhu, X., and Sparling, P. 2015. Early summer near-shore fish assemblage and environmental correlates in an Arctic estuary: the Husky Lakes, Northwest Territories Canada. Journal of Great Lakes Research. Special Issue. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2015.04.005
Kissinger, B. C., Gantner, N., Anderson, G. W., Gillis, D. M., Halden, N. H., Harwood, L. A., and Reist, J.D. 2015. Brackish water residency and semi-anadromy in Arctic Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) inferred from otolith microchemistry. Journal of Great Lakes Research, Special Issue, Northern Lakes. Doi 10.1016/j.jglr.2015.05.016
Bellehumeur, C., Nielsen, O., Measures, L., Harwood, L., Goldstein, T., Boyle, B., and Gagnon, C. 2015. Herpesviruses including novel gammaherpesviruses are widespread among phocid seal species in Canada. Journal of Wildlife Disease 52 (1): 70-81.
Harwood, L. A., Kingsley, M. C. S., and Smith, T. G. 2014. An emerging pattern of declining growth rates in belugas of the Beaufort Sea: 1989–2008. Arctic 67(4): 483-492.
Harwood, L. A. and Babaluk, J. A. 2014. Spawning, overwintering and summer feeding habitats used by anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) of the Hornaday River, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arctic 67(4): 449-461.
Harwood, L. A., Iacozza, J., Auld, J. C., Norton, P. and Loseto, L. 2014. Belugas in the Mackenzie River estuary, NT, Canada: habitat use and hot spots in the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area. Ocean and Coastal Management 100: 128-138.
Citta, J., Quakenbush, L. T., Okkonen, S. R., Druckenmiller, M. L. Maslowski, W., Clement-Kinney J., George, J. C., Brower, H., Small, R. J., Ashijan, C. J., Harwood, L. A., and Heide-Jørgensen, M. P. 2014. Ecological characteristics of core-use areas used by Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) bowhead whales, 2006-2012. Progress in Oceanography.
Roux, M.-J., Sparling, P., Felix, J. and Harwood, L. A. 2014. Ecological Assessment of Husky Lakes and Sitidgi Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada, 2000-2004. Canadian Technical Report Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3071. 123 p.
Addison, R.F., Muir, D. C., Ikonomou, M.G., Harwood, L. Smith, T. G., and Alikamik, J. 2014. Temporal trends in "legacy" organo-chlorine contaminants in blubber of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Ulukhaktok, NT, Canada between 1972 and 2010 . Science of the Total Environment.
Harwood, L. A., Sandstrom, S. J., Papst, M. H., and Melling, H. 2013. Kuujjua River Arctic Charr: monitoring stock trends using catches from an under-ice subsistence fishery, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories, Canada 1991-2009. Arctic 66(3): 291-300.
Harwood, L. A. and Kingsley, M.C.S. 2013. Trends in offshore distribution and relative abundance of Beaufort Sea beluga, 1982-1985 vs 2007-2009. Arctic 66(3): 247-256.
Bell, R. K. and Harwood, L. A. 2012. Harvest-based monitoring in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: Steps for Success. Arctic 64(4): 421-432.
Gaden, A., Ferguson, S. H., Harwood, L. A., Melling, H., Alikamik, J., Stern, G. 2012. Western Canadian Arctic Ringed Seal Organic Contaminant Trends in Relation to Sea Ice Break-Up. H. Melling; J. Alikamik; G. A. Stern Environmental Science & Technology DOI: 10.1021/es204127j
Harwood, L. A., Smith, T. G., Auld, J. C. 2012. Fall migration of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) through the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, 2001-2002. Arctic 65(1): 35-44.
Harwood, L. A., Smith, T. G., Melling, H., Alikamik, J., and Kingsley, M.C.S. 2012. Ringed seals and sea ice in Canada’s Western Arctic: harvest-based monitoring 1992-2011. Arctic 65(4): 377-390.
Walkusz, W., Williams, W.J., Harwood, L. A., Moore, S. E., Stewart, B. E., and Kwasniewski, S. 2012. Composition, biomass and energetic content of biota in the vicinity of feeding bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in the Cape Bathurst upwelling region (south eastern Beaufort Sea). Deep-sea Research I 69: 25-35.
Harwood, L., Joynt, A.A., Kennedy, D., Pitt, R., and Moore, S. E. 2010. Spatial restrictions and temporal planning as measures to mitigate potential effects of seismic noise on cetaceans: a working example from the Canadian Beaufort Sea, 2007-2008. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/040. iv + 14 p.
Harwood, L.A., Auld, J. C., Joynt, A. A., and Moore, S.E. 2010. Distribution of bowhead whales in the SE Beaufort Sea during late summer, 2007-2009. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/111. v + 22 p.
Harwood, L.A., and Joynt, A, A. 2009. Factors influencing the effectiveness of Marine Mammal Observers on seismic vessels, with examples from the Canadian Beaufort Sea. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2009/048. iv + 9 p.
Gaden, A., Ferguson, S.H., Harwood, L.A., Melling, H., and G. Stern. 2009. Mercury trends in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the western Canadian Arctic since 1973: associations with sea ice duration. Environmental Science & Technology 10.1021/es803293z. 6p.
Addison, R.F., D.C.G. Muir, M.G. Ikonomou, Harwood, L. A., and Smith, T. G. 2009. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) from Ulukhaktok (Holman), T: trends from 1978 to 2006. Science of the Total Environment 407; p. 5139-5146. 10.1016/j.scitotenv
Harwood, L. A., Pokiak, F., and Walker-Larsen, J. 2008. Assessment of the subsistence fishery and biological data for Arctic cisco in Tuktoyaktuk Harbour, NT, Canada, 1997-1999. Canadian Manuscript Report Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2845: ix + 31 p.
Harwood, L. A., Smith, T. G., and Melling, H. 2007. Assessing the potential effects of near shore hydrocarbon exploration on ringed seals in the Beaufort Sea Region 2003-2006. Environmental Studies Research Funds Report No. 162: 103 p.
Lockhart, W. L., Stern, G.A., Wagemann, R., Hunt, R.V., Metner, D. A., DeLaronde, J., Dunn, B., Stewart, R. E. A., Hyatt, C. K., Harwood, L.A., and Mount, K. 2005. Concentrations of mercury in liver of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the Canadian Arctic from 1981 to 2002. Science of the Total Environment 351: 391-412. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2fj.scitotenv.2005.01.050
Stern, G.A., Macdonald, C.R., Dunn, B., Fuchs, C., Harwood, L. A., Rosenberg, B., Muir, D.C.G., and Rosenberg, B. 2005. Spatial trends and factors affecting variation of organochlorine contaminants levels in Canadian Arctic beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). Science of the Total Environment 351:344-368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2fj.scitotenv.2004.10.033
Harwood, L.A., McLaughlin, F., Allen, R. M., Illasiak, J. and Alikamik, J. 2004. First-ever marine mammal and bird observations in the deep Canada Basin and Beaufort/Chukchi seas: expeditions during 2002. Polar Biology 28: 250-253.
Harwood, L.A., P. Norton, B. Day, and P. Hall. 2002. The harvest of beluga whales in Canada’s Western Arctic: hunter-based monitoring of the size and composition of the catch. Arctic 55:10-20.
Harwood, L.A. and T.G. Smith. 2002. Whales of the Beaufort Sea: an overview and outlook. Arctic 55 (Supplement 1): 77-93.
Clark, I.D., Lauriol, B., Harwood, L. and Marschner, M. 2001. Groundwater contributions to discharge in a permafrost setting, Big Fish River, N.W.T., Canada. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 33(1) : 62-69.
Smith, T.G. and L.A. Harwood. 2001. Observations of neonate ringed seals, Phoca hispida, after early break-up of the sea ice in Prince Albert Sound, N.T. Canada, spring 1998. Polar Biology 24: 215-219.
Harwood, L.A., T.G. Smith, and H. Melling. 2000. Variation in reproduction and condition of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) in Prince Albert Sound, N.T., Canada, as assessed through a community-based sampling program. Arctic 53 (4): 422-431.
Orr, J. R. and L.A. Harwood. 1998. Possible aggressive behaviour between a narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and a beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). Marine Mammal Science 14(1): 182-185.
Harwood, L.A., Innes, S., Norton, P. and Kingsley, M.C.S. 1996. Distribution and abundance of beluga whales in the Mackenzie Estuary, southeast Beaufort Sea, and west Amundsen Gulf during late July 1992. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 53: 2262-2273.
Adams, M., Frost, K.J., and Harwood, L.A. 1993. Alaska and Inuvialuit Beluga Whale Committee (AIBWC) – An Initiative in “at home management”. Arctic 46(2): 134-137.
Harwood, L.A. And Stirling, I. 1992. Distribution of ringed seals in the southeastern Beaufort Sea during late summer. Canadian Journal of Zoology 70(5):891-900.
Contact
Affiliations
Society for Marine Mammalogy
Arctic Institute of North America