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Genetically modified (GM) fish are given genes from

other animals in an attempt at creating a new genetic

codes in an attempt to accelerate maturation, eliminate

negative traits, and boost positive traits in the fish. There

some who fear that GM fish will disrupt natural

ecosystems, by interbreeding or causing a natural fish

species to become extinct because of the increased

competition of resources. Also there is the risk of

possible health issues for humans who consume GM

fish. On the other side of the debate there are those who

push for GM fish because of the environmental research

benefits in detecting pollutants, others keep them as pets,

and some with the hopes that GM fish will be healthier

for consumption and expanding the seafood farming. As

of now, FDA is reviewing AquaBounty’s GM fish, the

AquAdvantage, for consumption despite the controversy.

Abstract

The Beginning and the Goals

A major concern about developing a GM fish is the

possible interactions with wild and natural fish. In a

study about what might occur if a GM fish and a natural

fish procreated, the study showed the offspring between

the two fishes lacked in physical and behavioral

attributes. There were increased skeletal malformations

in the offspring, and only 2/3 of the offspring survived

(Sandberg). A concern is also that there will be an

increased competition of resources or predation between

the GM fish and the natural fish. Since GM fish are

created to withstand variations of water, they will be able

to habitat warmer and colder climates. There might be a

possibility that this will lead to possible species

extinction for the natural fish. The intention for GM fish

is to be separated from natural fish and put into a

separate confinement, but the concern if one escapes; so

a possible way to evade the issue would be to have them

sterilized to avoid the possibility of cross breeding

(Ramstack). Though, the president of AquaBounty

claimed that once their genetically modified fish reach

sexual maturation, their growth returns to normal, and

the largest recorded genetically modified fish does not

top the largest natural recorded fish. (Brown).

Other concerns involve the potential hazards of

consuming a GM fish. Studies show that GM fish have

40% more IGF1, a hormone that is linked to prostate,

breast and colon cancer in humans, which could increase

the risk of cancer among those who eat the fish. Also a

horizontal gene transfer scenario, where bacteria of the

human gut takes the DNA from the GM food during

digestion. This has only been shown to occur in soy

products, it is only speculation that this will occur in GM

fish as well.

Risks that are Potentially Involved

A GM fish called the GloFish, originally created in

Singapore in 2003, has been created to detect industrial

pollutants in smaller bodies of water (streams and lakes).

The GloFish has been made to glow red or green when

even the smallest traces of harmful chemicals are in the

water (Gill). The Zebrafish has become increasingly

popular as a pet. This fish has been genetically modified

with bio-fluorescent or light reflecting cells in it’s tissue.

The result is the fish is brightly glowing green or red. This

is the first marketed transgenic pet in the world (Gill).

Consumption is also a goal for the GM fish as well.

Because of the ability to withstand a variety of

temperature, seafood farming could expand to places that

were once previously deemed unsuitable; which would

increase the supply of the GM fish and in return would be

more abundant on the market. GM fish would be less

costly for producers to create and for consumers to

purchase because these fish reach maturation in half the

time of ordinarily bred fish (Sandberg). Another

theoretical goal would be to make the consumed GM fish

healthier for human consumption—shellfish are being

genetically modified to improve disease resistance and to

not provoke allergic reactions. These fish would be able to

increased the amount of Omega-3 Fatty acids that would

be available (Genetically Modified Food Saves Lives).

Benefits Included Although GM fish have not been passed for

consumption yet and are still being reviewed, it has been

decided that all GM fish must adhere to the same

standards of safety under the FFDCA and the FDA’s

Center for Food and Safety and Applied Nutrition that

apply to regularly bred fish in aquaculture seafood farms

(Cummins). There are skeptics who call the GM fish

“Frankenfish”, while others are convinced that it will

solve the issue of world hunger.

This is a graph depicting the average weight and size of the genetically

modified AquAdvantage salmon compared to a regularly farmed salmon.

Image from: Fooducate.com

Sources

Regulations, Actions and Debates

Genetically modified plants are commonly being used in

today’s society, and in 1984 two scientists Dr. Maclean

and Dr. Talwar used rainbow trout eggs and crossed

them with a Chinese Zhu fish (Schmidt). Fish are ideal

for genetic modification because of the massive amounts

of external eggs that are made, and now more than 35

different fish are under development for modification.

Genes are not just collected from other fish but also

humans, mice, coral bacteria to create a new genetic

code. The goal for these GM fish is to become more

resistant to disease, larger in average size, more tolerant

to variations in temperature, expanding aquaculture for

human consumption, producing pharmaceuticals, and to

test water contamination (Muir).

The bottom fish has been genetically modified and is suffering from

malformations in its skeletal system and body. Image from: Voanews.com

Despite the controversy over the GM fish, AquaBounty,

an aquaculture company that has been pushing for the

GM fish to hit the markets, has submitted

AquAdvantage, a genetically modified salmon, to be

passed and sold in markets

The GloFish that can be used in detecting chemicals in different bodies of

water. Image from: NewScientist.com

Even though these salmon are at the same age, the GM salmon reaches

maturation at a faster rate than the regularly farmed salmon. From:

MailOnline.com

Brianna Gustafson

Genetically Modified Fish

Bhattacharya, Shoani. "Glowing Red G Fish to Sell in US." New Scientist. Reed Business. Information Ltd., 24 Nov. 2003.

Web. 13 May 2013.

Brown, Paul, E. c. (2000, Apr 22). `Feed the world' opportunity seen for GM salmon. The Guardian. Retrieved

fromhttp://search.proquest.com/docview/245516133?accountid=38871

Cummins, Ronnie. "Information on Fish & Sustainability from the Organic Consumers Association."Information on Fish &

Sustainability from the Organic Consumers. Association. Organic Consumers Association, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

"Genetically-Modified Rainbow Trout Could Boost Aquaculture." Voice Of America. RSS, 6 June 2010. Web. 13 May 2013.

Gill, Tony. "The atomic fish: the rising controversy of genetically modified pets." The Humanist Sept.-Oct. 2004: 7+.

Academic OneFile. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.

Muir, William M. "The Threats and Benefits of GM Fish." EMBO Reports 5.7 (2004): 654-59. Print.

Poulter, Sean. "'Frankensalmon' Ruled Safe to Eat: Fast-growing GM Fish Approved by Scientists." Editorial. Mail Online.

Associated Newspapers Ltd, 6 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 May 2013.

Ramstack, T. (2003, Feb 01). Genetic changes in fish could increase food but harm habitats. Knight Ridder Tribune Business

News. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/464408832?accountid=38871

Sandberg, L. (2000, Jun 21). Guess what's coming to dinner: Genetically modified fish may feed the world -- or unleash an

environmental nightmare. National Post. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/329682794?accountid=38871

Schmidt, S. (2010, Sep 30). Makers of genetically modified fish, livestock wage PR battle; biotechnology industry hopes to

convince public of benefits. The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from:

http://search.proquest.com/docview/756124317?accountid=38871

The data bit: Genetically modified food saves lives. (2003, The American Enterprise, 14, 15-15.. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/225404997?accountid=38871