Mosaic: The Salmon Wilderness of Bristol Bay, Alaska
Filmed over the course of the summer and fall of 2021, Jason Ching and Professor Daniel Schindler from the University of Washington’s Alaska Salmon Program recently released a short film on the salmon habitats of southwest Alaska. Mosaic: The Salmon Wilderness of Bristol Bay, Alaska showcases the region’s pristine streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands and how they sustain its vast sockeye salmon runs. Watch the film below and to see more of Jason’s incredible work follow him on Instagram.
I was excited to work on this video because Bristol Bay and environmental communication through camera work have become a central part of my life. I have worked as a researcher for ASP and as a photographer in the area for over a decade. As I’ve learned more about Bristol Bay, like how its freshwater habitats function to maintain colossal sockeye salmon runs, I’ve enjoyed the challenge of sharing and communicating what I’ve learned—primarily through photos and videos.
I hope that people watching it gain an understanding of how the intact salmon habitats of Bristol Bay work and a general appreciation for one of the few pristine and healthy ecosystems that we have left in the world. Because I enjoy sharing the beauty, as well as the science, research, and understanding of our natural environments through visual media, working on this film has been an incredible opportunity for me.
Jason Ching
Interested in conducting your research in the Alaskan wilderness? Visit the Alaska Salmon Program website to learn more about graduate opportunities and employment. Current students can also enroll in two field courses: the undergraduate course, FSH 491 – Aquatic Ecological Research in Alaska (offered in even years) and the graduate level course, FSH 497 – Management of Pacific Salmon (offered in odd years).
Additional video credits include:
Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust
Bristol Bay Regional Seafood
Development Association
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Bristol Bay Salmon Processors
Salmon Science Network