Northwest Florida’s first showing of the documentary film Artifishal takes viewers into the tension between marine life and the demands of a growing human population. The film chronicles the loss of native salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest and the attempt to replace those fish with salmon bred in hatcheries. There are lessons for the Gulf coast as we look to protect and restore our populations of wild native fish through enhanced water quality and habitat like seagrass beds and oyster reefs.

From the filmmakers: “We made our new film Artifishal to help ensure a future with more fish for all of us. We are living in a time of high human population and increasing pressure on our natural resources. If we want fish for our kids, we need to take responsibility for protecting the wild fish and waters that we love.”

The event also includes garden tours, an update on a commercial fish farm planned for an area offshore of Pensacola, and discussion of potential environmental issues that the farm could create. Learn more about the event on the Facebook page of Healthy Gulf. The event is cosponsored by From the Ground Up Community Garden and the UWF Community Garden. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a movie under the stars.