An Earth Day livestream showcases previously unseen fish ecosystems beneath the Great Lakes.
Beneath the surface of the Great Lakes lies a vast ecosystem that underpins regional wildlife, water systems and human communities, yet remains mostly out of view. Filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick of Inspired Planet Productions are aiming to change that with Hidden Below: The Great Lakes, a TVO Original wildlife documentary now in production.
Using underwater ROVs capable of reaching extreme depths, the team is beginning a two-year effort to document life across the Great Lakes watershed, which contains more than 20 percent of the world’s freshwater.
While the documentary series is slated for release in 2028, the filmmakers are already teasing the mind-blowing footage they’re capturing. Through Hidden Below: LIVE, a series of livestreamed expeditions, audiences can follow along as the team explores the depths.
The Earth Day Hidden Below: LIVE broadcasts from the waters surrounding the Bruce Power nuclear generating station on Lake Huron. Renowned fish biologist Dr. Nicholas Mandrak and Bruce Power scientist Dr. Cherie-Lee Fietsch will join Yvonne and Zach for this livestream that offers extraordinary access to a thriving Fish City, where more than a dozen species gather in a habitat shaped by humans.
Expect personal encounters with bowfin—a species unchanged since the age of dinosaurs—alongside bigmouth buffalo (the Great Lakes’ largest “sucker” fish, known to live more than a century). Schools of smallmouth bass may be spawning, while giant walleye, freshwater drum, catfish and rainbow trout pass through.
Also drawn to the plant’s warm outflow, huge numbers of gizzard shad (a native herring species) will make an appearance en masse. And in this ever-changing ecosystem, surprises are likely: sea lamprey, salmon, diving birds, invasive carp, or even beaver may show up at the party.
A previous broadcast from Superior Shoal—considered the world’s largest freshwater underwater mountain—offered an extraordinary glimpse of the format.
Expect personal encounters with bowfin—a species unchanged since the age of dinosaurs—alongside bigmouth buffalo (known to live more than a century).
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The Nature Conservancy of Canada is serving as lead impact partner for the project, contributing research expertise and helping translate field discoveries into conservation outcomes.
“Healthy freshwater systems support our communities, our economy and the wildlife we depend on — yet much of this world remains out of sight,” says Aaron Bilyea, Chief Marketing Officer, Nature Conservancy of Canada. “Hidden Below brings these critical ecosystems into view, helping people better understand both their importance and what’s at stake. We’re proud to support this work and to collaborate with partners to advance lasting conservation across the Great Lakes and beyond.”
“Freshwater life is among the most threatened on Earth,” says Yvonne Drebert. “Yet our TV screens are filled with coral reefs and ocean giants, while the vibrant life of freshwater ecosystems remains largely unseen. Hidden Below is about changing that.”
The team has already achieved a milestone to inspire hope for the future. Last fall, working closely with Parks Canada staff in the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the filmmakers documented coaster brook trout spawning near the outer islands.
These rare native trout (found only in the Lake Superior watershed) are a brilliantly coloured symbol of healthy freshwater ecosystems, and were believed to be on the brink of extinction. While most coaster spawning occurs in rivers, researchers and Indigenous knowledge holders have long suggested that some may also spawn around the remote islands.
The Hidden Below team captured what is believed to be the first footage documenting this event. In the cold, clear waters of the largest Great Lake, the trout excavate nests in the gravel to lay their eggs, and contort into almost comedic faces as they release eggs and milt.
These rare native trout (found only in the Lake Superior watershed) are a brilliantly coloured symbol of healthy freshwater ecosystems, and were believed to be on the brink of extinction.
“Parks Canada is pleased to partner with Inspired Planet’s work on Hidden Below. This collaboration has deepened our understanding of coaster brook trout and the freshwater ecosystems we are entrusted to protect. This will strengthen Parks Canada’s evidence-based approach to conservation of Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area,” says the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature.
“This is a genuine freshwater breakthrough,” says Zach Melnick. “Moments like this show what’s possible when conservation science and cinematic storytelling come together.”
“Understanding the ecology of aquatic animals below the surface has been a black box for scientists. New technologies, such as acoustic telemetry coupled with underwater video, provide scientists an unprecedented understanding of fish behaviour and interactions with their predators, prey and habitats,” says Andrew Muir, Science Director at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the project’s Scientific Partner.
“Understanding the ecology of aquatic animals below the surface has been a black box for scientists.”
Hidden Below builds on the filmmakers’ earlier TVO documentary All Too Clear, which examined the ecological impact of invasive mussels in the Great Lakes. This time, the focus shifts more squarely to the unseen wildlife behaviour beneath the waters that so many millions depend on.
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