Editor’s Note— This has been corrected. The film will be shown tonight (Friday), not Saturday.
PORT ANGELES — “Sonic Sea,” a documentary highlighting the effects of human-made noise pollution in a marine habitat, will be screened tonight.
The film will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Peninsula College Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
It was produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council and International Fund for Animal Welfare.
The event — organized by Peninsula College’s Magic of Cinema and the Sierra Club North Olympic Group — is free, although donations will be accepted.
Joining the event to answer audience questions will be Michael Jasny, Natural Resources Defence Council director.
Partially based on the book “War of the Whales” but expanded in scope, the film documents a former U.S. Navy officer who claims to have solved a mystery of mass whale strandings in the Bahamas, according to a news release.
Just as most humans rely on sight to survive, marine mammals use sound to hunt for food, find mates, navigate and detect predators, according to the release, with human-generated noise detrimentally affecting these abilities.
“Sonic Sea” studies how vessel traffic and other human-induced noise might impact whales, dolphins and other sea life, and explores ways ocean sounds might be changed to lower the impacts.
Jasny, an attorney, focuses on ocean noise pollution law and policy, according to organizers.
He has directed litigation, lobbying efforts, science-based policy development and public advocacy to improve the regulation of sound mitigation efforts, the release said, adding that his work also focuses on securing protection for endangered marine mammals and their habitat.
Jasny is the author or co-author of numerous publications in legal, policy and scientific journals, organizers said.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. He works in both Vancouver, B.C., and Santa Monica, Calif.
Also speaking will be environmental advocate Barb Laski of Port Townsend, the founder of Harmony’s Way.
Laski will summarize the efforts of two area coalitions to mitigate ocean noise pollution through education, outreach and regulation.
“Our precious Salish Sea is a significant hub of rising acute and chronic ocean noise that calls for urgent action,” Laski said.
An audience discussion will follow.
Co-sponsoring the event are the Clallam County Marine Resources Committee, Coastal Watershed Institute, Feiro Marine Life Center, Friends of Miller Peninsula State Park, Harmony’s Way, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Olympic Environmental Council, Olympic Forest Coalition, Olympic Park Associates, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Protect Peninsula’s Future, Save the Olympic Peninsula and Sissi Bruch of the Port Angeles City Council.
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Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
