MONDAY, JAN. 6

First off, you’re going to need this phone number: 562-590-3100, extension 0.

It’s only by calling that number and reserving a seat that you can attend tonight’s free screening of “Sea of Shadows” at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The movie, a production of National Geographic Documentary Films and winner of the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the efforts of scientists, activists, investigative journalists and undercover agents to rescue the endangered vaquita porpoise in Mexico’s Sera of Cortez.

But, what is killing the vaquita isn’t limited the usual laundry list of humanity’s hubris, i.e. waste, ignorance and discarded Gatorade bottles. In a twist one would only expect in, well, a movie, Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez and their methods of poaching threaten all marine life in the region, including the vaquita, the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth.

The film plays out not only as wildlife documentary but suspense thriller as a team of scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and police and even the Mexican Navy race to save the last remaining vaquita and while bringing a vicious international crime syndicate to justice.

Also, the musical numbers are spectacular. (Kidding. They’re just OK.) (Kidding.)

After the film, which screens at 6:30 p.m., “Sea of Shadows” filmmaker Matthew Podolsky will take part in a panel discussion with ocean conservationists José A. Zertuche-González, researcher, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Ensenada and Kim Thompson, director of Seafood for the Future.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way.”Sea of Shadows” screens at 6:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion. To RSVP, call 562-590-3100, extension 0. For more information, click here.