ABOUT THE FILM
“What Lies Below” is a Canadian documentary featuring Lawrence Gunther, a blind graduate from York University’s master’s program in environmental studies and a highly regarded speaker, writer and radio host on the subject of fishing and Canada’s aquatic ecosystems. He is visiting and interviewing people across Canada to learn about their concerns and hopes for their local fisheries. The documentary explores what local people are doing to ensure the future sustainability of Canada’s water and traditional fisheries. Lawrence Gunther draws on his perspective to explore and share what others aren’t able to see taking place beneath the waves.
BLUE FISH CANADA
Blue Fish Canada was federally incorporated in January 2012 as a non-profit organization. Its charitable activities cover freshwater and marine environment restoration, preservation and conservation, and the promotion of sustainable traditional management of fish stocks. Policies and programs are researched, developed and implemented to restore and conserve freshwater, marine ecosystems and wild fish stocks, and to mitigate the direct and indirect negative impacts of humans. BFC works together with communities and their leaders to share traditional knowledge, useful scientific data, and emerging trends that support environment preservation.
ABOUT LAWRENCE GUNTHER
As a person who was registered blind as a child, Lawrence has made it his life’s mission to consider what’s taking place in the underwater environments that made us all “blind”. Lawrence’s passion has led to his earning a Masters in Environmental Studies which included researching environmental issues impacting Canada from sea to sea to sea. He has lived among the Inuit in Canada’s Arctic, hand-lined commercially for Cod off Cape Breton Island, competed professionally in fishing tournaments throughout North America, and invented the world’s first fishing boat capable of being piloted independently by someone without sight. Lawrence’s work has been well recognized including his receipt of the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General.