Three environmental groups are asking seafood retailers across the United States to pledge not to sell genetically engineered fish and to oppose their commercialization. Citing potential negative human health effects and a threat to the genetic purity of wild salmon, Friends of the Earth, the Center for Food Safety, and Clean Water Action announced a new campaign on Oct. 18 that aims to prevent the commercialization of genetically engineered fish.

Transgenic fish of various species of salmon, tilapia, channel catfish and others are being actively investigated worldwide as possible new food producing varieties.

The groups cite a pending application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for market approval of an experimental salmon developed by Aqua Bounty Farms, also known as A/F Protein. The company describes itself as a development-stage biotechnology company with offices in the United States and Canada.

A/F Protein developed the transgenic fish technology out of its research on fish species living in the high north that have a compound in their blood that lowers the freezing point of the whole fish so that they are safe from freezing through the frigid Arctic winters.

The Food and Drug Administration could approve the application at any time, the groups fear, putting the first engineered fish on American dinner plates, grocery shelves and in restaurants across the country.

Linda Setchell, campaign coordinator for Clean Water Action New England believes that if the groups can block demand for transgenic fish and educate the market to its potential dangers, they can buy time for further safety testing.

"If the market for transgenic fish disappears, so will the drive to rush this untested technology into the marine environment," she said.

Tracie Letterman of the Center for Food Safety, says, "adequate independent studies of the health effects of eating these fish have not been conducted."

The groups have contacted more than 50 seafood outlets to ask for their support. Grocers include Kroger, Safeway and Trader Joe's, while restaurants include Long John Silver, Applebee's and Legal Seafoods, and bagel companies include Einstein Brothers Bagels and Chesapeake Bagel Bakery.

"Most people do not want to eat genetically engineered fish. We hope that companies that sell seafood will reflect public concern for health and the environment by making a pledge not to sell these fish," said Lisa Ramirez, campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth.

A Purdue University study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in November 1999 showed that the release of just 60 engineered fish into a population of 60,000 naturally occurring fish would cause the wild fish species to become extinct within only a few generations.

To persuade the grocers and restauranteurs that it is in their best interest to avoid transgenic fish, the groups are emphasizing the liability risk companies could face if the fish turn out to be harmful or were to inadvertently enter supplies without federal approval.

In a contamination incident last year that might parallel problems with transgenic fish, the mixing of StarLink engineered corn into the food supply caused Taco Bell to lose $60 million in sales, Kraft Foods to recall over 25 million taco shells, and the price of corn to drop.

The transgenic Starlink corn was not approved for human consumption by the federal government due to concern that it might trigger allergies.

Of particular ecological concern to the environmental groups are salmon populations on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts already listed under the Endangered Species Act that could be further undermined by the release of engineered salmon.

Genetically engineered salmon are designed to grow between 10 and 30 times faster than natural salmon. They would be raised in marine aquaculture operations for sale to stores and restaurants.

"Unintended releases of transgenic fish into the world's waters would be inevitable as hundreds of thousands of conventional farmed fish escape every year," the groups warn.

No federal laws specifically govern the regulation of genetically engineered animals grown for human consumption, but the FDA has made the informal decision to regulate genetically engineered fish under its authority to review new animal drugs.

Concerned about the potential toxicity, allergenicity, and aquaculture diseases posed by the commercialization of transgenic fish, the campaign members organized over 70 other organizations and individuals to join in the filing of legal petitions earlier this year to several federal agencies requesting a moratorium on the approval of transgenic fish until they have been properly reviewed.

The FDA acknowledges that, "The primary environmental concerns about releases of transgenic fish, for example, include competition with wild populations, movement of the transgene into the wild gene pool, and ecological disruptions due to changes in prey and other niche requirements in the transgenic variety versus the wild populations."

The government agency admits, "Ethical concerns among the public over the appropriate use of animals are issues, not evident with transgenic plants, that may affect public acceptance of transgenic animals as food sources."

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **