The vast sounds of the ocean will fill a small theater in Juneau on Thursday.
In celebration of World Oceans Day, the National Marine Fisheries Service is holding a screening of “Sonic Sea,” an award-winning ocean documentary. The free screening will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at The Gold Town Nickelodeon on Douglas Island.
The 2016 film examines the role that sound plays in the oceans, and how human-caused noise pollution is creating disastrous effects for wildlife. Whales and other underwater animals depend on sound just as humans depend on eyesight, and the increased amount of boats and other ocean activity from humans is changing the acoustic surroundings for these creatures. The documentary won awards at nine film festivals in 2016, earning recognition at many others as well.
World Oceans Day is an annual day to celebrate the world’s oceans and plan for a healthy future for the oceans. This year’s theme is “Our Oceans, Our Future,” and organizers are promoting the reduction of plastic pollution and ocean litter this year. There are other planned screenings of “Sonic Sea” across the country Thursday, including shows in Florida and Texas.