GENET-news articles on "GE salmons"
2013-02-19 | permalink
AquaBounty remains confident of FDA approval for GM salmon, despite 60-day comment extension
AquaBounty Technologies - which has already spent years waiting for the FDA to decide whether to approve its genetically engineered salmon - will have to wait a little longer as the agency plows through almost 30,000 comments submitted since it gave the fish the provisional green light before Christmas. [...] AquaBounty CEO Ronald L Stotish, PhD [...] added: “Although we are not pleased, we do not believe this materially affects our chances for approval.” “The FDA panel of experts concluded in September 2010 that AAS is indistinguishable from other Atlantic salmon, is safe to eat and does not pose a threat to the environment under its conditions of use. There has been neither new information nor a clear legal or regulatory issue raised by the FDA since that time.”
2013-02-19 | permalink
Chief of Winnemem Wintu Tribe (California, USA) says Frankenfish must be stopped
Caleen Sisk, Chief and Spiritual Leader of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, said the Tribe strongly opposes the tentative approval of genetically engineered salmon by the Food and Drug Administration. “Salmon is in our traditional stories, songs and dances,” said Sisk. “We must stay pure to exist in the ancient circle connecting our tribal customs to salmon. The Winnemem Wintu have a right to protect salmon, and certainly NOT allow them to be genetically modified in anyway. They must not have their genes and DNA subject to exploring ideas.” “It must be recognized as an inherent right of Indigenous Peoples for the Winnemem Wintu to hold the salmon as a relative that is so intrinsic to our culture. There are complete eco systems based on the clarity, knowledge and health of the salmon,” said Sisk.
2013-02-14 | permalink
U.S. risk scientist Anne Kapuscinski comments on AquAdvantage salmon
Anne Kapuscinski is a professor of sustainability science at Dartmouth College, who recently led a team of 53 scientists in writing a book on the subject of risk assessment science as applied to genetically modified fish. I spoke with professor Kapuscinski about AquAdvantage salmon, a fast-growing genetically modified fish poised to become the first GM animal approved for human consumption. Under the proposal being considered by FDA, AquAdvantage eggs would be produced on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and grown to market size at a small, inland facility in Panama. None of the production steps would take place in the U.S. All told, this approval process has dragged on for nearly two decades.
2013-02-14 | permalink
U.S. FDA extends frankenfish comment period
The United States Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday that they would extend the public comment period for the AquaAdvantage Salmon application a further 60 days after receiving an inordinate amount of comments as the comment period was on its last days before closure. The FDA reports at 30,000 comments have been received by the agency since they had announced that they had found that the altered Atlantic Salmon hybrid affectionately called the “Frankenfish” posed no significant environmental impact.
2013-02-14 | permalink
Anti-frankenfish measure advances in Alaska (USA) House
the House Fisheries Committee approved House Joint Resolution 5, a resolution sponsored by Representatives Geran Tarr and Scott Kawasaki opposing the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the sale of genetically modified salmon in the United States. [...] HJR 5 enjoys bi-partisan support and is co-sponsored by ten other legislators. The Governor and Alaska’s Congressional Delegation have also weighed in to oppose FDA approval. This action brings the 28th Alaska State Legislature one step closer to joining the Alaska Congressional Delegation and the governor in standing with Alaska’s fishermen against “Frankenfish.”
2013-02-11 | permalink
Petersburg Borough Assembly (Alaska, USA) speaks out against GE salmon
The Petersburg Borough Assembly spoke out against genetically engineered salmon by way of a resolution during its regular meeting Monday afternoon. Resolution 2013-2 opposes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s preliminary finding of no significant effect on the quality of the human environment in the U.S. with approval of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc’s application to market genetically modified Atlantic salmon in the United States. “In councils past we have sent resolutions not supporting this modified salmon,” Petersburg Borough Assembly Mayor Mark Jensen said.
2013-02-11 | permalink
New Alaskan (USA) legislation takes aim at ‘Frankenfish’
Legislation to ban sale or shipping of genetically modified salmon in the United States, and to require that such products be labeled as genetically engineered was introduced in the U.S. Senate Feb.7 by Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. “Alaska has been supplying the world with nutritious salmon for decades,” said Begich, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard. “We cannot afford to experiment with the world’s largest wild salmon stocks without the certainty that these fake fish won’t pose a serious environmental risk, especially to wild salmon and their habitat.
2013-02-04 | permalink
Genetically modified salmon - a fast growing hype
The U.S. government may be about to approve genetically modified salmon from the company AquaBounty. If the salmon is allowed, it will become the first genetically modified animal heading for our dinner plates. The salmon is genetically engineered to grow faster, and the company therefore argues that the fish will help to feed a hungry world. “Here once again we have the GM industry proclaiming it is going to save the World. This time with a luxury product, salmon, of all things. In fact this salmon is a textbook example of why genetic modification is a dead end investment if you really want to feed the world”, says Bell Batta Torheim, advisor to the Development Fund.
2013-01-31 | permalink
Alaska (USA) State house introduces anti-GE salmon resolution
The Alaska State Legislature is considering a house resolution “opposing AquaBounty’s petition to produce genetically engineered salmon,” and calling for it to be labeled as “genetically modified” if it goes to market. [...] The Food and Drug Administration released a Draft Environmental Assessment in December 2012 that found AquaBounty’s GE Atlantic salmon posed no risk to the environment. The FDA has already ruled that the fish is safe for human consumption. It is taking public comments on its environmental assessment through Feb. 24. After that, the FDA is widely expected to approve AquaBounty’s fish for U.S. markets.
The fast-growing Atlantic salmon has been genetically engineered to carry DNA coding from two other species: a Chinook (King) salmon, and an ocean pout (a slender fish that looks like but is not technically an eel). The Chinook DNA makes the GE fish grow bigger faster, and the ocean pout DNA makes it grow year-round.
Alaska has already passed a law requiring genetically engineered salmon sold in the state to be labeled as such. The current resolution supports a federal labeling law, something all three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation have advocated for. Governor Sean Parnell has also written a letter to the FDA urging it to deny AquaBounty’s application to sell its fish for human consumption in the U.S.
2013-01-29 | permalink
Alaska (USA) legislators rebukes FDA findings on GE salmon
A group of Alaska legislators are fighting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s preliminary findings on genetically engineered salmon. On Tuesday, Rep. Geran Tarr of Anchorage proposed a resolution calling upon FDA to further investigate the effects of producing genetically engineered salmon. HJR5, which has garnered bipartisan support, also asks the federal government to require labeling genetically modified salmon if it is to be sold. The resolution is in line with concerns raised by Alaska’s congressional delegation.
