(release in Spring 2025)
Deep in the lakes and rivers of Algonquin Provincial Park, a gentle giant with the body of a shark makes its way along in the dark, browsing the mollusks and decaying material like it's ancestors have for 150 million years.
Lake Sturgeon are some of the most incredible species of freshwater fish on the planet, growing to lengths of over 1.5 metres and playing a crucial role in cleaning their ecosystem. In the Petawawa River, they live in a relatively pristine environment, sharing the waters with recreational paddlers, anglers, and the Algonquin-Anishinaabek Nation for thousands of years.
But they are at risk. Lake Sturgeon need deep, predictable, and unobstructed habitats in order to breed and yet the free-flowing Petawawa River is a prime location for new hydro dam projects. In order to understand the impact of a potential dam on the species, Carleton University PhD student Katie Cunningham is gathering baseline data on Lake Sturgeon movement and genetics within the Petawawa.
This short film breaks down the importance of this research project as a way to connect local anglers, land-users, and invested organizations to the fish that they share the water with.
Client: Fish Ecology & Conservation Physiology Lab @ Carleton University
Producer: Dr. Sean Landsman
Director & DOP: Graham Perry
Editor: Graham Perry
Featuring: Katie Cunningham & Dr. Sean Landsman
