Seafood.com
Seafood.com July 29 via BBC -- Revelations in the House of Commons of government support for a Scottish Experiment with genetically modified salmon has caused an uproar in Britain, where any hint of genetic modification of foods is highly controversial.
In 1996, Otter Ferry Salmon carried out privately funded research in closed tanks, after having obtained government permission and support to do so. A growth gene from Chinook salmon was put into 10,000 Atlantic salmon eggs. 50 individuals grew at 4 times the normal rate of growth. The fish were kept for 18 months, and then destroyed.
The Scottish Salmon Association distanced itself from the experiments, fearing a market backlash. At the time, in 1996, the Scottish growers feared that this technology would be adopted in Norway, to great competitive advantage. Essentially the modification would allow salmon to grow to market size in 12 to 18 months, rather than 3 years, halving the cost of production.
Since then, nine salmon growing countries agreed to a ban on genetically modified fish, and there has been no further interest in the project.
Nevertheless, the techniques have been established and they lay the groundwork for a further dramatic reduction in the cost of rearing farmed salmon. To what extent they ever get adopted will depend on whether there is market acceptance of genetically modified foods.
