The Dangers of GE Salmon

For 17 years, AquaBounty, a Canadian biotech corporation has been working on a GM salmon that grows twice as fast as regular salmon. Their GE salmon is waiting approval by the FDA.  To produce this GE salmon, AquaBounty has inserted genetic material from an eel-like fish and a chinook salmon. If approved, GE salmon would be the first “transgenic” (a foreign gene has been inserted into the DNA) animal allowed in the food supply.

If (when) it arrives to our supermarkets, you can bet it won’t be labeled so the consumers know they are eating it.  You can also bet that though it may be the first, it won’t be the last transgenic animal to land on our dinner plate either.

GE Salmon Mating With Wild Fish

Dangerous precedents have been set in the GE agricultural markets.  Genetically altered corn, soy and wheat have had disastrous repercussions. Thousands of farm animals have gotten ill or died eating GE feed.  Millions of bees have died as a result of these crops and the pesticides used to maintain them.

The impact on human health is, and will continue to be, enormous.  Gastrointestinal problems, allergies and many more serious conditions are now being linked to eating genetically altered food.

There is quite a concern that the "frankenfish" salmon could escape commercial facilities and end up in rivers and lakes mating with wild trout and salmon. Most commercially raised salmon are grown in big nets in open water.  Salmon are notorious for escaping.

Acknowledging the threat of escape, AquaBounty has attempted to render their salmon sterile to prevent reproduction.  But according to the company’s reports, up to 5% of the salmon eggs will not be sterile, leaving hundreds of thousands of fertile eggs in production. 100% containment is impossible.

GE salmon in the wild, mating with wild fish is an ecological disaster.  Imagine birds and animals feeding off of this altered fish.  Wildlife is much less adaptable to bad food than humans are.  This would be an ecological disaster, the consequences of which are too gruesome to consider.

What can you do about it?  I urge you to write your senator.  Several senators as well a house members have written the Obama administration expressing serious concerns about AquaBounty’s GE salmon.  Let your voice be heard.  We are running out of time.

To your Health!

Peter Gillham