On Wednesday, March 4 at 6pm, Middlebury Institute of International Studies hosts a free screening of the documentary film Sea of Shadows, followed by a discussion at 8pm with Captain Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, at Irvine Auditorium in the McCone Building.

When Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, their deadly methods threaten to destroy virtually all marine life in the region, including the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth, the vaquita porpoise.

The documentary Sea 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.

We're excited to have Captain Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, join us via video-conference after the film. Sea Shepherd is an anti-poaching and direct action group focused on marine conservation and marine conservation activism. The discussion will be hosted by Dr. Jason Scorse, Director of the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.