The Breach

An illuminating and heartbreaking documentary, filmmaker Mark Titus's The Breach offers an eye-opening look at the destruction of both salmon habitat and the travel routes necessary to breed and replenish the fish's population. For millennia, salmon enjoyed a relatively benign relationship with humans, as people would only take what they needed—leaving the majority alone to complete their breeding journeys. But between overfishing, damming up crucial rivers, and the environmental destruction of breeding areas, the kinds of massively large salmon once routinely seen and caught are largely gone. In addition, the salmon that are left continue to face one man-made challenge after another, from stream pollution, to so-called commercial “salmon farms” (which expose young wild salmon to lice and illness), to unimaginable levels of poisoning resulting from breaches in copper mining. The Breach travels from Oregon to Alaska—with stops along the way in British Columbia—to assess the overall situation, interviewing science experts, Native American tribal fishermen, authors, and celebrated Seattle chef Tom Douglas. While the story here is dire, hope remains that concentrated efforts may be able to undo some of the previous damage. Extras include behind-the-scenes footage. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)