TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Symposium 1 - the National Sea ...

Bounty Farms believes that this eliminates any direct threat to the wild fish population,
even if it does not fully address certain of the other environmental concerns cited
previously. The policy issue here is, is it not more acceptable to raise sterile, rapidly
growing transgenic fish in open water cages than fertile, slow growing non-trangenic fish?
If the commercialization of transgenic fish proceeds according to the principles of using
environmentally isolated facilities or growing only sterile fish in open areas, this
technology will produce a net gain for the ocean’s ecosystems by replacing systems with
more severe impacts.
Conclusion
Recognizing the enormous potential benefit of biotechnology, such as the development of
transgenic fish, means also recognizing that while regulatory oversight is necessary,
regulations must be used to safely advance its use, not to hamper or eliminate the
technology. Further, regulatory oversight should be developed in keeping with the
thoughts expressed in the ICLARM-GTZ Bellagio Conference ‘Environment and
Aquaculture in Developing Countries’ (Pullin 1993), that “environmental conservation and
human needs must be balanced.” A sound understanding of the economic, nutritional and
environmental advantages which transgenics can offer - through application of costbenefit
analysis - should be employed (Hite and Gutrich 1998; Balint et al. 1998).
Examples where these guidelines to the development of policy have not been followed
show that the results are negative to producers, consumers, and ultimately, to the
environment as well (Ackefors and Olburs 1995).
References
Ackefors, H. and C. Olburs. 1995. Aquaculture: a threat to the environment, or opportunities for a new
industry? The Swedish paradox. J of Marine Biot. 3:53-55.
Ackefors, H., C. Olburs. 1996. Swedish aquaculture policy - a nightmare for the industry? Aquaculture
Europe. 21(2): 6-13.
A/F Protein, Inc. 1998. AquAdvantage . US Patent & Trademark Office. Reg. No. 2,147,668. March 31,
1998.
Anon. 1997. Scotland loses £1.3m salmon. Scottish Fish Farmer: October, 1997: p 2.
Aqua Bounty Farms. 1998. The Blue Revolution. Aqua Bounty Farms Update: Vol.1, No.4, July, 1998:
p.2
Balint, P.J., Colwell, R.R., Gutrich, J.J., Hite, D., Levin, M., Stenquist, S., Whiteman, H.H. and R. A.
Zilinskas. 1998. Risks and benefits of marine biotechnology: conclusions and recommendations,
p.213-220. In R.A. Zilinskas and P.J. Balint (eds.) Genetically engineered marine organisms:
environmental and economic risks and benefits. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, Dordrecht,
London.
Claxton, L. 1995. Production must increase to meet world needs. Northern Aquaculture: November 1995:
p.1
CNI. 1995. Transgenic fish: the next threat to marine biodiversity. Community Nutrition Institute in
collaboration with the Biotechnology Working Group. November 1995. Washington, D.C.
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