The St. John Film Society will present a film screening of Sea of Shadows (104 minutes). It will be screened at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, at St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay.
The documentary will be followed by special guest speaker Dr. Cynthia Smith, the director of the Marine Mammal Foundation.
Synopsis: A looming disaster in one of the most spectacular environments on Earth sparks a rescue mission unlike any other. In this riveting new documentary. When Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, their deadly methods threaten virtually all marine life in the region, including the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth, the Vaquita porpoise. “Sea of Shadows” follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and courageous undercover agents as well as the Mexican Navy as they put their lives on the line to save the last remaining Vaquitas and bring the vicious international crime syndicate to justice.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Cynthia Smith is program manager of the Vaquita CPR conservation project. Her background as lead veterinarian for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill marine mammal health assessment and a senior veterinarian for the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program makes her the perfect fit to lead the team of 90 scientists to search for and rescue the Vaquitas.
Smith is also the executive director of the National Marine Mammal Foundation. Her role in the rescue mission is essential to the success of the program. She was asked to lead the Mexican government-led rescue mission.
Smith will give an afternoon lecture entitled “Marine Mammal Conservation in the Caribbean and beyond. She will lecture at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Virgin Islands National Park Visitors Center.
For more information contact: St. John Film Society at stjviff@gmail.com or visit www.stjohnfilm.com or call 715-0551.
The suggested donation is $5; or choose to become a 2019 member of SJFS: $40 individual/ $60 couple.