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Salmon - Now Genetically Modified!
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Salmon is one of the favorite and common fish that we are consuming now. Statistics state that commercial production of salmon exceeded 3 million tons in the year of 2010. According to the UN, as of 2007, the commercial salmon production accounts to about 70% of the total salmon consumed. Commercial aqua culture industry, which is now in the path of a tremendous growth, is facing a problem to meet the ever increasing needs for the fish. It is because salmons could be grown only during spring and summer. Also, due to the unique life cycle of salmons and increasing fishing, the salmon population has been found depleting over the years.

In order to speed up the production of salmon, Aqua Bounty Technologies developed the genetically modified salmon. Aqua Bounty Technologies is a biotechnology firm who does research and development in the commercial aquaculture field. The genetic modification was performed on the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). They added growth hormone regulatory gene form Pacific Chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha), which is the largest of the salmons. They also introduced a regulator protein gene from ocean pout (Zoarces americanus). They named the genetically modified salmon as, Aqu Advantage, a trademark. The genetically modified version of the fish can be grown throughout the year and also twice as faster than the common salmon. It weighs more than twice the conventional salmon too. It requires 10% less feeding than the usual ones. The company calls the modified salmon is twice better than the unmodified salmon, without a compromise in size due to the genes from the Pacific Chinook salmon.

A thousand questions are raised against the genetically modified salmon. Most of these are on account of its effects on the environment. If the fish escapes from the hatchery, it can destroy the whole environmental balance because of its features that are claimed to be its advantages. It grows twice faster than the unmodified salmon, leading to an increased number of genetically modified salmon among the wild ones. The genetically modified salmons are able to survive longer than the wild ones. They switch their food they feed on, and adapt to any food source that is available for them. This feature of feeding which is more effective than usual, when combined with its capabilities to grow faster enables the genetically modified salmon to attain maturity and reproduce within a time span as low as two years. As the modified salmons achieve maturity faster, they will undergo smoltification also faster than the other fishes, which enables them to migrate to the freshwaters earlier. This also results in reduced competition for the modified salmons in foraging. If a complete depletion of food sources occurs, then they may feed on the wild unmodified salmons too. This will probably lead to near extinction of the wild salmons. Balance in food chain will be further disturbed as the genetically modified versions are capable of escaping from other living beings, which depend on salmons for their food, better than the other salmons. Other questions are regarding the safety issues on the consumption of genetically modified salmon. Many believed that it may contain many harmful substances that will affect the health of those who consume it more often. Even though tests have proved that there are no health problems due to its consumption, at least for a short term, some are still having the opinion that it will create problems on the long term consumption.

On account of the issues raised against the genetically modified salmon, the verdict of the Food and Drug Administration was eagerly awaited. The FDA stated that the genetically modified salmons will not cause any threat to environment and it’s completely safe as the Atlantic salmon. Those supporting and opposing this development are putting forward their own statements to prove their respective sides. The genetically modified salmons haven’t reached anyone’s dining table yet, but current FDA’s reports mean it will soon, as the first of its kind in the commercial market. To counter all the allegations against it, several explanations and remedies are being given by Aqua Bounty itself. They say that all the fishes produced will be sterile female and no male population will be produced, and hence there is no fear of multiplication of these fishes in the outer environment even if it escapes. Even in this context, issues are raised saying that 100% sterilization of the fishes cannot be achieved, and at least 5% of the total fishes produced will be fertile. Aqua Bounty says that farmers are given eggs of the fishes only, rather than providing them with young ones. Environmental activists are shutting their ears to all the remedies and explanations for the issues, and are strongly advocating that the genetically modified salmon can never be harmless to environment or humans. They add that tests conducted until now are only short term tests that cannot demonstrate the long term effects of it. The newly developed salmon is said to contain allergens that will cause severe health problems on continuous consumption of the fish. This problem has not received any explanation other than mere statements that the transgenic fish does not contain any harmful allergen. Tests also report that it does not contain any allergens, but still not giving a complete clarity for the issue.

From the first transgenic salmon that was made in 1989, the researches went at full swing, giving sleepless nights to scientists to reach the current milestone of producing a genetically modified salmon that can be applied on a commercial level. If the FDA further approves the production of the transgenic fish, it will soon reach the commercial market. The environmental activists are strongly opposing the whole development of transgenic fishes. The allegations against the transgenic salmon seem to be in need of genuine clarification to the public at least, as it is them who decide the fate of this fish as a commercial product. There is also a strong opinion to label the transgenic salmon, rather than selling it in the name of common Atlantic salmon, so that people can be selective about what they need. But here also FDA has taken a stand in support of it, claiming that as the transgenic salmon is completely safe to consume, so there is no need of any such labels that differentiates genetically modified salmon from natural salmon and consumers are required to do a wild guess here.

Putting aside the issues aside, on the assumption that all of those are solved and found a permanent solution, the genetically modified salmon is a big leap forward in the commercial aquaculture. It can provide food security up to a great level as the fishes can be produced twice as fast, as well as twice the weight of a natural salmon.
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