FIN IN THE NEWS: William Shatner takes on sea lice

CANADA IN BRIEF

VANCOUVER (CP) - William Shatner is hoping B.C.'s wild salmon live long and prosper.

The Canadian actor made famous for his work as Capt. James T. Kirk in the Star Trek series has joined efforts to protect the West Coast's wild salmon from potential sea lice.

Shatner beamed his way into a conference call with federal New Democrat Fisheries and Oceans critic Fin Donnelly and says it's our duty as Canadians to keep our resources from being destroyed.

Donnelly, MP for the B.C. riding of New Westminster-Coquitlam and Port Moody, has introduced a private member's bill that would require fish farms to move from the province's coast to closed containment systems on land.

Aquaculture critics have long expressed concern farmed salmon are decimating wild stocks by spreading sea lice and Shatner says he's outraged by companies that have no conscience about the damage they're inflicting.