A new Canadian risk assessment of the GMO salmon AquAdvantage finds that the genetically engineered fish is more susceptible to disease than its natural counterpart.   (Click on the photo to see an enlarged comparison of the GMO and standard salmon.) The report by Friends of the Earth says that the assessment found that GMO salmon

— are more susceptible to Aeromonas salmonicida, a type of disease-causing bacteria, than non-GE domesticated salmon, which indicates unique animal health problems and raises environmental and public health concerns that the FDA has never considered.

— are exhibiting dramatically diminished growth rates in AquaBounty’s commercial facilities, casting more doubt on the widely disputed claims about the accelerated growth rates of GE salmon.

— are displaying widely varied performance, including inconsistent growth rates, suggesting that the growth-hormone gene construct inserted in the fish is not operating in a predictable manner, raising questions about the durability, safety and commercial viability of GE salmon. (source)

The report “reveals that Canadian government scientists disagree with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on key questions related to the safety and performance of what may be the first GE animal approved for human consumption. In light of these findings, Food & Water Watch, Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth and Consumers Union today called on the FDA to terminate its ongoing review of GE salmon.”

The Genetic Literacy Project provides some background on the GMO salmon program.  The fish was first developed in 1989 “using an antifreeze protein-based technology under license from the University of California at Berkeley.”  The AquAdvantage and standard salmon are about the same size when fully grown, but the GMO salmon grows at about twice the rate of the natural salmon. The advantage of the GMO salmon’s faster growth is the increased profit from reaching market sooner.   (source)

Concerned organizations have been studying potential dangers from the GMO salmon.  In addition to the problems with all farmed fish, AquAdvantage salmon have been genetically modified in ways that have not been tested in humans.  There is the additional danger of escaped genetically engineered fish interfering with wild salmon.  Although the GMO fish have supposedly been rendered sterile, AquaBounty has admitted that up to 5% of the eggs could be fertile. (source)   The Canadian report indicates that the claims for increased growth rate may not be valid.  Read more about concerns of Federal scientists here.

Sources for more information about the potential dangers of AquAdvantage salmon:

Genetically Engineered Salmon: Deficient, Deformed, and Dangerous to You and the Environment
GE Salmon Will Not Feed the World
FrankenFish: How Genetically Engineered Salmon Could Hurt our Health and Environment
California Salmon: A Public Resource in Decline

Photo source: Genetic Literacy Project from AquaBounty Technologies.