The Heartbeat tells the story of the connections between salmon and people in the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. Can science untangle the complex relationships between land, sea, and community to ensure salmon persist?
Even in the face of wide-ranging threats like overharvesting and climate change, Alaska is one of the few remaining places on Earth where sustainable management of salmon is possible. However, growing human populations, lack of government regulations, and unpredictable climate change create uncertainty for the future of the landscape – and the salmon streams that course through it like a cardiovascular system.
The Salmon and People Project – a collaborative effort between the Smithsonian, the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and partners – is working to understand how to best protect the future of salmon in this interconnected region. The team conveys their knowledge to local communities so that they can make informed decisions that impact the watershed. Together, they aim to support not only the salmon, but also the culture and economy that depends on them. Dir: Danny Schmidt & Kelsie Moore