See ‘Artifishal’ in Moab

Locals are partnering to show a free community screening of “Artifishal.”

The documentary screening is on Monday, May 20, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Atomic Grill & Lounge, 1393 U.S. Highway 191.

“Artifishal” is about the cost of fish hatcheries, fish farms and human impact — or “extinction with good intentions,” according to the film’s promoters, who say they are concerned about the future of wild fish, like salmon, in this global economy of artificial fish. “Artifishal” was created by Patagonia Films and will be showing in Patagonia stores, at film festivals, community events and in theaters in cities across the country from Maine to California with many stops in between.

Josh Murphy is the film’s director and Laura Wagner is the producer. Murphy was trained as a natural resource scientist and fisheries biologist and said his childhood idol was filmmaker/environmentalist Jacques Cousteau. Wagner is the recipient of the Sundance Institute’s Creative Producing Fellowship and Lab. Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, is the film’s executive producer. He is an activist and has written several books and is the executive producer of the 2014 documentary “DamNation.”

“Artifishal” takes an educational and informative look at wild fish, their hatchery and farmed counterparts, and their links to the environment.

Patagonia started a petition on change.org and is urging people to watch “Artifishal” and sign the petition online. According to the information on change.org, wild salmon and southern resident killer whales (orcas) are on the brink of extinction due partly to hatcheries and over-harvest. A “misguided plan” to “feed the orcas” with 60 million more hatchery salmon per year is being proposed — at a cost of up to $87 million over 10 years — by Washington State’s orcas task force. On its website, Patagonia says the plan is likely “disastrous” and offers a better solution: working together to reduce overall fish harvesting so that the whales have more food to eat.

Screening tour stops at Atomic Grill & Lounge on May 20

When: Monday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Atomic Grill & Lounge, 1393 U.S. Highway 191

Cost: Free

Info: Visit patagonia.com/artifishal.html

Author: Moab Sun News Staff Report

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