Salmon Secrets
June 10, 2026, 7 pm, SC Arts Centre
Free admission – donations always appreciated
DOCUMENTARY FILM
Duration: 40 min.
Director: Jérémy Mathieu
Presented by Clayoquot Action
GUEST: Alexandra Morton will join us by Zoom after the film for a Q&A and discussion.
Fish farming is pushing wild salmon to the brink of extinction. The federal government has promised to remove fish farms from BC waters by 2025, but now the industry is pushing back with false solutions.
The fish farms have been removed from Broughton Inlet. Salmon and the ecosystem dependent on salmon have returned and are thriving.
Join Clayoquot Action’s fish farm watchdog program as a team of underwater cinematographers investigates an “experimental” fish farm near Tofino. What they find surprises them and spells potential disaster for wild salmon.
This film looks at the impacts of salmon farming through the eyes of those fighting to protect wild salmon from extinction. Featuring First Nations members Skookum John, Keltsmaht First Nation and Joe Martin, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and Kwakwabalas – Chief Ernest Alfred, traditional and elected leader of the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation, as well as scientist and best-selling author Alexandra Morton.
About Alexandra Morton
Alexandra Morton came to the coast of BC in 1979 looking for the A5 pod of orca. She had learned their calls working with captive A5 member Corky who is in a tank in California.
She established a long term orca language study in Echo Bay in the Broughton in 1984 and enjoyed several years of discoveries about whales and dolphins.
In 1989 salmon farms began using the area and while Alex thought they might be a good idea, her fishermen neighbours were alarmed by where the farms were being placed.
Over the next 37 years Morton went from writing letters on behalf of the fishermen, to publishing on impact of salmon farms, established a research station to continue that work, took the industry and government court repeatedly. As Alex puts it, the only thing that worked is when First Nations led a 286-day occupation of the farms through the winter of 2017/2018.
Today 1/2 the salmon farms in BC are closed, the other half are slated for closure June 2029 and astonishing wild salmon rebounds are being documented where the farms were closed.
Alex is now returning to the language of orca.
Watch the trailer
More info about the film and resources
- Clayoquot Salmon Investigation (CSI) is Clayoquot Action’s fish farm watchdog program. Find out more about their work.
Take action
Join Clayoquot Sound Action in their campaigns.