Vanessa and Tristan are hot on the heels of the Pacific salmon, as they complete their extraordinary journey from the sea to their spawning grounds in the rivers of British Columbia. The pair’s mission is to document the salmon as they run the gauntlet of killer whales, black bears, grizzly bears and bald eagles, all of which depend on the precious fish for survival. But Vanessa and Tristan soon discover that the salmon numbers are dwindling, and the animals that rely on them have an uncertain future.

Their filmmaking journey begins at Johnstone Straight, where Vanessa and Tristan search for the mighty orcas. Each year, orcas feast on salmon as they make their trip back to the rivers. Because it’s dangerous for Tristan to get in the water with these predators, he uses specialized underwater equipment to get stunning images of these extraordinary animals.

Next, Vanessa and Tristan arrive in Klemtu, Swindle Island, by float plane. They get a bird’s-eye view of the stunning Great Bear Rainforest, which is home to black bears, grizzlies, bald eagles and the enigmatic spirit bear. Vanessa and Tristan are eager to spot a spirit bear, a rare blond bear related to the North American black bear. The spirit bear lives only on the Pacific coast of British Columbia, and its name possibly is attributed to the First Nations people’s reverence and protection of these fascinating bears.

Using cable dollies, time-lapse, slow-motion technology and underwater cameras, the duo film the salmon migration and all the animals that depend upon it. And finally, through gritty determination and sheer luck, Vanessa and Tristan spot and film a spirit bear as it swims from island to island in search of salmon.