Local reps push for ban on GE fish

Calling current FDA actions inadequate, a bipartisan group including U.S. Reps Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman have introduced legislation to prevent genetically engineered (GE) fish from being sold in stores or released into the nation’s oceans.

H.R. 394, the Prevention of Escapement of Genetically Altered Salmon in the United States (PEGASUS) Act, would effectively ban all GE fish in the United States by prohibiting the shipment, sale, transportation, purchase, procession, or release into the wild of GE salmon, or other GE finfish, unless full environmental impact studies prove there is no detrimental impact.

“No genetically engineered salmon should be in our waters or on our dinner plates, unless a full environmental study, using the best available science is conducted to make sure these fish won’t harm natural salmon, our fisherman, and the health of American families,” said Thompson.

Stated Huffman, “We need to keep genetically engineered salmon out of our oceans, rivers and streams—and off of our dinner plates. GE salmon pose a danger to our wild salmon population, the ecosystems they live in and our commercial fisheries.”

Since 1996, AquaBounty Technologies has been developing GE salmon with the hopes of receiving FDA approval to sell it for human consumption. The specific process splices genetic material from the Chinook (King) salmon with that of a pout fish and Atlantic salmon. The resulting organism, the company claims, would grow to the size of an Alaskan King salmon in a shorter period of time than found in nature.

In 2012, the FDA published a draft Environmental Assessment for GE salmon holding that the product is unlikely to cause significant effects on the environment and is safe to eat. However, although the public comment period ended on this controversial assessment two years ago, the FDA has not announced their final decision.

“The FDA’s evaluation of these fish is inadequate,” Thompson said. “Until rigorous scientific studies are completed, these fish shouldn’t be in our waters or stores.”