Available for streaming on Jan. 31, 2025
Directed by Lindsey Haskin - Narrated by Academy Award-Winner J.K. Simmons
A gripping tale of why the most prized fish in the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth nearly vanished, and the remarkable people who tackled the mystery.
In the early twentieth century, a mysterious ecological crisis nearly wiped out the fish that most people cared about in the largest freshwater ecosystem on earth—the Great Lakes. The impact reverberated across the region, ruining local industries, damaging small town economies and indigenous communities, and destroying the livelihoods of people in the United States and Canada. With little reason for hope, a dedicated group of scientists, policymakers, and conservationists tackled the mystery.
This powerful documentary is the product of nearly eight years of extensive research and production, capturing the heart of the Great Lakes region and the people who live, work, and recreate there. Director Lindsey Haskin and his team at Skyhound Media worked closely with indigenous communities, anglers, biologists, historians, environmental agencies, and passionate conservationists as they chronicled the struggle to restore balance to this extraordinary resource.
This film is deeply personal to me, having grown up in the Great Lakes region, where fishing is a cherished part of life.Lindsey Haskin, Director
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is an international organization established by the United States and Canada through the 1954 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. Among its charges is managing and controlling the invasive sea lamprey, which has threatened the ecosystem for decades.
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