AQUACULTURE: Opposition to Genetically Modified Salmon on PEI

Unless you are blessed with god-like prescience, this is truly something to be worried about. Additionally, this industry has a long history of poor judgement on salmon diseases, vaccination potential, stocking density and more. GMO "accidents" will go beyond remediation. Perhaps efforts should go to increasing profits by decreasing mortalities?

My opinion this morning. Art
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GMO salmon opponents meet with Ghiz
Last Updated: Thursday, January 13, 2011 | 5:52 PM AT
CBC News


A P.E.I. coalition against genetically modified salmon says Premier Robert Ghiz has agreed to pursue more transparency around export plans by AquaBounty.

The U.S.-based biotechnology company has an egg-hatching facility in Bay Fortune where it's developing advanced-hybrid salmon designed to grow faster than traditional fish. The company touts its AquAdvantage Salmon as reaching market size twice as fast as traditional salmon.

AquaBounty is currently awaiting a decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on whether its fish can be sold in the American market. If approved, the fast-growing salmon would be the first genetically modified food animal for sale in the world.

The coalition of opponents to the company's plans met with Ghiz and provincial Environment Minister Richard Brown Thursday. The group, which includes the Council of Canadians, P.E.I. Health Coalition, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network and Earth Action PEI, has been asking Ghiz to address what it says is growing opposition to AquaBounty's development of GMO salmon in P.E.I.

Leo Broderick, vice-chair of the Council of Canadians, said the group wants public consultations on the AquaBounty export plan.

"We did get a commitment from the premier that he would play a more active, positive role in trying to get Environment Canada to be more transparent," said Broderick. "And so, he is going to write Environment Canada asking whether or not Aqua Bounty has requested approval for commercial production of GMO Atlantic salmon, salmon eggs on P.E.I. And he's going to ask that the P.E.I. government be part of the environmental risk study. That's very good."

Broderick said the Premier agreed to take the group's demands for a consultation process to the Liberal Caucus, but he ultimately refused a request to declare P.E.I. a GMO-free province.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/01/13/pei-aqua-bounty-transparency.html?ref=rss#ixzz1B0iUbakF

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