Growing up and learning to fish on the rivers that poured into Lake Michigan, I knew lampreys were bad, but it frustrated me when, every five years, the DNR would poison my home rivers with lampricides, temporarily turning them an ugly color and (at least in my opinion) putting the kibosh on some of my favorite insect hatches for the next season.
This interesting documentary really sheds light on the complexity of the issue in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated.
Here is a press release for background:
SkyhoundMedia, a celebrated production company specializing in exploring nature’s impact on society worldwide, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission are proud to unveil “THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery.” This award-winning documentary tells the true story of the remarkable people tackling the mystery of why the most prized fish in the Great Lakes–the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth–nearly vanished. This near cataclysm destroyed jobs and businesses and devastated towns and Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada.
“THE FISH THIEF,” narrated by Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, delves into the extraordinary effort to uncover the cause of a devastating environmental crisis. Was it overfishing, pollutants, or something else? Scientists on both sides of the border worked tirelessly to solve the mystery. In a dramatic eleventh-hour breakthrough, they discovered the true culprit: the invasive sea lamprey. This notorious predator arrived in the Great Lakes in the early twentieth century, triggering an ecological crisis and nearly wiping out populations of lake trout, whitefish, and other cornerstone species. The impact reverberated across the region, ruining local industries, damaging small town economies and Indigenous communities, and destroying the livelihoods of people on both sides of the U.S. and Canadian border. A dedicated group of international scientists, policymakers, and conservationists banded together in a race against time to address this ecological invasion. While their effort continues, their work to date has dramatically influenced the region’s environmental and economic future and underscored an urgent message: protecting natural resources is essential not only to local prosperity but also to global well-being.
“As the Commission celebrates its 70th anniversary, we are proud to release THE FISH THIEF,” said Ethan Baker, chair of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. “Since the Commission was established in 1955, Canada and the United States have worked together to carry out one of the most successful aquatic invasive species control programs in the world. Despite the success, not everyone knows about the Commission’s work or even sea lampreys. This documentary is an exciting and lively way to remind people that the world-class, $6 billion Great Lakes fishery that we enjoy today, is the result of an unwavering commitment to work together across borders and to control the destructive, non-native sea lampreys. The lessons learned over the past seven decades serve as an important reminder of the havoc caused by invasive species and why we need to be vigilant stewards of our Great Lakes.”
This powerful film 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. Working closely with Indigenous communities, anglers, biologists, historians, environmental agencies, and passionate conservationists, director Lindsey Haskin’s team chronicled the struggle to restore balance to this extraordinary resource. The project spanned Canadian and American waters, with filming taking place aboard scientific research vessels, commercial fishing tugs and trap net vessels, and the boats of sport anglers who’ve dedicated their lives to the lakes. “THE FISH THIEF” is a testament to the resilience of a region and the relentless drive of those who refuse to give up on its future.
“This film is deeply personal to me, having grown up in the Great Lakes region, where fishing is a cherished part of life,” says THE FISH THIEF Writer/Director/Producer Lindsey Haskin. “It’s a story that transcends political, cultural, and economic divides—a celebration of how science, government, and community came together to preserve an ecosystem that sustains local economies and traditions. My goal was to share this compelling history, not as an advocacy piece, but as an honest reflection of the challenges and triumphs that define the Great Lakes and to tell the story of the remarkable people who fought tenaciously to ensure that the lakes remain a special part of our lives.”
“THE FISH THIEF” has been showcased at numerous regional, national, and international film festivals, earning multiple awards along the way. Distributed by The Film Sales Company, the film will be available for pre-order on Apple TV/iTunes starting December 6. Its official U.S. and Canadian release is set for January 31, 2025, when it will be available to stream, download, or rent on platforms including Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google/YouTube, and Tubi.
To learn more about the film, please visit https://thefishthief.com/
