The Disadvantages of Transgenic Salmon and Why it isn’t a Solution
Though there are apparent advantages of the transgenic salmon to human populations, the negative risks presented with this genetically-modified organism prove it to be unfit for use. Firstly, the genetically-modified AquAdvantage salmon has the potential to devastate marine ecosystems if ever released accidentally into the wild. The modified population could enter wild populations through reproduction between species or introduction of viable eggs, either of which would impact the natural ecosystem. AquaBounty claims to have methods prepared to prevent such interactions, including the sterility of eggs sold to fish farmers, the triploid, mostly female fish population and in-land facilities. However, approximately five percent of the eggs produced by AquaBounty are not sterile, meaning that if these eggs do enter the ecosystem, they can be fertilized. The offspring would result in a fish with genetically-modified DNA that could have the ability to pass this DNA to their offspring and so on, infecting the wild population and changing the genetics of a species.
When transgenic males are produced, these males have been found by researchers at Memorial University to have the ability to partake in normal spawning behavior. If they were released into the ecosystem, they could engage in breeding with females of the wild population, thus passing on their genetically-modified DNA.
Also, land-sites, though far better than on-water aquaculture sites, still have complications associated with them. The water that must be re-cycled through in-land systems is released intermittently and with the release of the water, eggs and small fish can also be released into the environment. Natural disasters and human errors could cause the release of organisms as well. In any of these cases, the introduction of genetically-modified fish could result in competition for resources between these fish and the wild population, and thereby lead to a decline in wild species.
It is not however, only the environment that is negatively impacted by transgenic salmon. The consumption of genetically modified animals is a very new addition to the food industry and therefore has not been evaluated in depth enough to fully determine effects on human health. The FDA has approved the salmon as safe for human consumption, however research has shown some differences between conventional salmon and genetically-modified salmon that could have unforeseeable health complications in the future.
Many chemicals are found in higher concentrations in the AquAdvantage salmon than in the unmodified Atlantic salmon. Folic acid, zinc and phosphorus are included in these chemicals and are present at values differing by over ten percent from those in normal farmed salmon. Omega 3 fatty acids are a significant reason that many people eat fish, especially salmon. However, in the genetically-modified salmon, the omega 3 to omega 6 ratio is reduced by more than twelve percent. This could be problematic for those eating fish to increase their intake of omega 3s. The most concerning difference between the modified salmon and the normal salmon is the level of the “insulin-like” Growth Hormone, IGF-1. The hormone IGF-1 is in greater amounts in modified fish and is known to be a carcinogen. Increased levels of IGF-1 could cause problems later in life that have not yet been observed, such as increased risk of cancer.
Jeffrey Smith speaks out about the risks of genetically-modified salmon