Salmon Confidential documentary available for online viewing

If you missed Salmon Confidential at the Vancouver International Film Festival or the VIFF Repeats series (which continues until October 17), you can watch Twyla Roscovich's eye-opening documentary online. 

The film, which won the Most Popular Canadian Environmental Documentary Award at the VIFF closing gala, exposes how the Canadian government has tried to silence scientists who have been struggling to prove what is killing B.C.'s wild salmon. In turn, this muzzling of scientists affected journalists who were reporting on the story.

It also outlines the controversies about the impact that farmed salmon have on wild salmon, and the potential health hazards of eating farmed fish. There are some points that diners will want to take note of before ordering sashimi or sushi at a restaurant or shopping for fish at the market.

The documentary also captures B.C. biologist Alexandra Morton's dedication to ensuring the survival of the keystone species, which is critical to West Coast ecosystems. In a previous interview with the Georgia Straight, Morton encouraged British Columbians to watch the feature.

Government officials declined to be interviewed for the film.

Both the Salmon Confidential and the Department of Wild Salmon websites also offer plenty of other information for those interested in learning more about the issue.