Check your local TV listings and make a point of watching the Tuesday, October 11 episode of BOSTON LEGAL titled Finding Nimmo. The key players, William Shatner (Denny Crane) and James Spader (Alan Shore) retreat to a wilderness lodge situated on Nimmo Bay, just north of the Boughton Archipeligo, itself north east of Campbell River. They intend to do some fly fishing and male bonding. During the course of their time, they become embroiled in the sea lice issue and end up tackling the fish farmers in a courtroon in Port McNeill (fictional as the community does not have such a facility!). The duo stays at the real life luxurious Nimmo Bay Lodge, where one pays from $2000 a day to enjoy the amenities and to fish.

While other questions prevail, as mentioned the case focusses on the sea lice problem. These parasites thrive amongst the captive farm reared salmon in pens and attack wild fish who pass through the passage as part of their key migratory routes. You will have to tune in to find out the rest of the story. But a little background info may be of interest.

The idea for the show derived from an earlier visit Shatner and Spader made to the lodge so as to enjoy some fishing. Afterwards, they raved about the experience on a segment the show! The lodge owner encouraged the plot development. He is a member of BC Wilderness Tourism. This body has called on government for a moratorium on salmon farming until there is an authorative study on the link among the fish farms, sea lice and wild salmon. Murray says the episode will bring awareness to the problem few are aware of now. Rarely is it possible to have a prime time US TV show speak on such an issue.

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