A Future Of Stronger, Better, Bigger Salmon?
Debating the legitimacy and ethics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has become a central part of health-related and environmental conversations in recent years. While pesticide and fertilizer producer Monsanto is often seen as the main culprit for encouraging farmers to grow GMO crops, there is a new company on the scene that is taking fire for creating GMO animals for consumption. American company AquaBounty Technologies recently received US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval for their GMO salmon AquAdvantage; however, there are already some consumers and supermarket chains that intend to boycott this salmon.
AquAdvantage is genetically altered breed of salmon that is effectively a mix between wild Atlantic salmon and Chinook salmon, together with a few genes from other fish that the company claims improves the fishes’ growth processes. Salmon is a seasonal fish that breeds once a year in the fall, but with AquAdvantage’s genetic modification, the fish can grow all year round and at twice the rate as farm-raised salmon. However, there are a number of risks associated with GMOs, and GMO animals in particular, that concern researchers and environmentalists.
Animal health risks associated with GMO salmon are still unknown, though some studies suggest that genetically modifying organisms could cause critical system failure and death in some animals; this is unlikely in Aquadvantage Salmon, as the breed has been in testing for at least a decade.
Researchers have already noted behavioral differences between wild populations of salmon and GMO salmon. The most note-worthy differences are that the GMO breed eats more in order to feed its growth-driven genes, swims near the surface of the pools rather than swimming in groups and has decreased immune system functions
Additionally, the effect of modified genes on humans is still unknown and may never be fully understood; companies are not required to label their GMO products, though the FDA encourages it. Other potential risks include the ecological threat that the new breed could pose to wild salmon, although the company currently farms the fish in remote locations outside of the range of natural salmon.
Currently, while there is strong opposition to GMO crops, GMO crops are not new to the American consumer. GMOs account for about 80% of US crops, and there has yet to be any confirmed health risk related to what is otherwise a useful technology.
