Earlier this year, CRA partnered with the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and the UK based production company Content With Purpose (CWP) to create a new film as part of the AFS series, Tomorrow’s Catch: Securing Our Future Fisheries.
This digital series explores the future of sustainable fisheries through short films and interviews featuring innovative science, forward-thinking conservation efforts, and the people and organizations driving change. It will debut at the AFS Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in August 2025 and be distributed widely through a targeted digital outreach campaign to both domestic and international audiences.
CRA’s film focuses on our signature River Care program and the collaborative restoration work reshaping rivers and landscapes across northwest Michigan. The film highlights stream crossing improvements on the Crystal River—co-led and funded by longtime partners at the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians—and explores the power of dam removal in reconnecting ecosystems and enhancing community identity. Through comparisons between the active Rugg Pond Dam project and the landmark Boardman-Ottaway River restoration project, the film underscores how River Care contributes to long-term Great Lakes resiliency.
Filming for the project is now complete—and we were proud to work with Fauna Creative, a Grand Rapids-based production company known for crafting beautiful, compelling visual stories rooted in environmental and social impact. Fauna’s thoughtful approach and deep care for conservation helped bring our story to life in powerful and authentic ways. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership and can’t wait to share the final product.
This project aligns with several key themes from the Tomorrow’s Catch series:
Collaboration & Partnerships
Highlighting successful cross-sector collaboration—including with Tribal Nations—to deliver landscape-scale conservation supported by initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Freshwater Crisis
Addressing the pressures facing freshwater fisheries—from dams and development to water quality and climate change—and showcasing solutions underway across the Great Lakes Basin.
Climate Change
Demonstrating how local conservation work contributes to ecosystem resilience and adaptive management in the face of climate impacts.
Biodiversity
Exploring the restoration of native habitats, the importance of preventing invasive species, and the role biodiversity plays in sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.
Behind-the-scenes photos from the production are included below. Stay tuned for the premiere on CRA’s social channels later this summer!
Swipe through the gallery below for a look behind the scenes!
