Each year, in the largest salmon run in the world, an estimated 30 million sockeye salmon migrate into the rivers and lakes of Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska. Their numbers have not always been as abundant, and in 1946, when the sockeye run underwent dramatic decline, the University of Washington began a study of the bay’s salmon that continues to this day.

In this video — the first runner-up in the 2015 Yale Environment 360 Video Contest — videographer Jason Ching captures stunning images of these rich salmon runs as he reports from Bristol Bay on the University of Washington’s Alaska Salmon Research Program, one of the world’s most exhaustive and longest-running fisheries studies. From counting, weighing, and measuring salmon to studying inner-ear bones that reveal the age and number of years a sockeye has been at sea, the scientists are continuing to build an invaluable data base. Ching’s video shows the exquisite beauty of these fish and their remarkable migrations.

About the Filmmaker

For the past eight years, Jason Ching has spent his summers working in remote field camps in Southwest Alaska as a research scientist for the Alaska Salmon Program. He spent much of his spare time behind a camera documenting the environment, wildlife, and research activities. Through his photography and videography, Ching aims to promote a better understanding of ecological processes, foster appreciation for natural resources, and bring recognition to environmental conservation efforts.

About the Contest

“Alaska Salmon Program” is a runner-up in the 2015 Yale Environment 360 Video Contest. Entries were received from six continents, with a prize of $2,000 going to the first-place winner. The final winning video will be posted in the coming weeks.

See the video here.