About the event

Our freshwater fish populations play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health, but they exist in a perilous state with over one third of species facing extinction.

Wild Atlantic salmon, a keystone species, are in crisis, having declined by 70% in the last 25 years. The population in Great Britain is now classified as endangered due to the latest species reassessment by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, announced at COP28 in December 2023.

Fish face a multitude of existential threats, from polluted waterways, overfishing and habitat destruction, to over-abstraction of water for irrigation and over 23,000 man-made barriers in waterways in Britain blocking migratory passage.

Beaver ecosystem engineering creates a habitat which innumerable species of plants, fungi, invertebrates, amphibians, mammals, and fish, benefit from. However, concern remains about the ability of beaver dams to impede the movement of migratory species to and from their spawning grounds at critical times of year.

Balancing the Scales is a powerful, visually stunning documentary that captures hope amid environmental uncertainty. Through candid interviews with leading experts, this film unpacks the intricate relationship between beavers and migratory fish – revealing the opportunities beavers create and the unique challenges they introduce in our modern landscapes. 

Join this journey of discovery to find a balance between realising the ecological benefits of beaver activity and protecting and preserving endangered migratory fish populations.

Watch the trailer here.

This film was produced by Nina Constable, an award-winning self-shooting director based in Cornwall, UK.