Description

The Broughton Archipelago, located off the coast of British Columbia, is home to one of the most significant and controversial environmental challenges in the region: salmon farming. Open-pen farms, in particular, have been linked to the spread of harmful chemicals, diseases, and parasites such as sea lice, which devastate wild Pacific salmon populations and other marine life.

In 2017, Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred of the Nam’gis, Tlowit’sis, and Mamalilikala First Nations took a stand against these harmful practices. After witnessing the damaging effects of sea lice on wild salmon, Ernest and other members of his community occupied salmon farms near Swanson Island and Midsummer Island in the Broughton Archipelago. The occupation lasted for an impressive 284 days and resulted in a significant victory, with many salmon farms removed from the area. This victory sparked a process of marine life recovery, although some salmon farms still persist in nearby waters.

To raise awareness and honor the region’s natural resources, Charles Van Kirk, Max Belau from Splice, and producer Marisa McIvor traveled to the Broughton Archipelago to document the distinctive sounds of the area. They recorded humpback whales, sea lions, kelp forests, cedar trees, and the ongoing operation of the remaining salmon farms. These sounds were transformed into an artistic soundscape in a project titled Soundscapes Archipelagos.