Genetically Modified Fish: A Disaster Waiting to Happen

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http://www.mercola.com/2003/feb/1/gm_fish.htm

 

Genetically Modified Fish: A Disaster Waiting to Happen

 

Genetically modified fish could potentially upset the world’s fragile ecological

balance should they escape into the wild, but federal agencies do not have

clear-cut authority to regulate these new biotechnological advances based solely

on environmental concerns. Moreover, the government is not structured to assess

the environmental risks associated with the altered fish, according to a new

report by a biotechnology research group.

 

In a worst-case scenario, the man-made fish could escape and breed with fish in

the wild, causing harm, or possibly extinction, to natural fish species,

according to the report issued by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology,

a Washington-based, non-profit group.

 

The report comes just as several biotechnology companies have entered the final

stages of testing of a number of genetically altered animals. While the Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) has authority over some of these animals, such as farm

animals that have been altered to produce human drugs in their milk, their

control over others remains uncertain.

 

One such animal, which is currently being considered for approval by the FDA, is

Aqua Bounty salmon. The company, Aqua Bounty Farms, is the first to seek

approval for commercialization of an altered animal. Their salmon contain a

modified growth hormone gene that allow them to grow twice as fast as regular

salmon, and while these faster-growing fish could increase productivity, they

pose a great risk to the environment should they escape.

 

Environmental groups are dedicated to stopping the commercialization of the

altered fish, which they have dubbed “Frankensalmon,” while biotechnology groups

see the salmon as a major steppingstone toward whether or not such animals will

be accepted by federal agencies and the public in the future.

 

The FDA can require food-safety studies for such products, however they may not

be able to restrict or ban the altered animals based only on environmental

risks. The report goes on to say that even if they could, the agency lacks the

expertise to do so.

 

Analysts say that as new circumstances arise, regulators will have to stretch

their authority to account for the changes. As it stands, the FDA has to stretch

old laws, written before genetic engineering was invented, to cover

unprecedented scenarios.

 

The FDA states that they are assuming they do have full jurisdiction over

gene-altered animals, including environmental issues, and will not approve an

animal that cannot hold up to environmental standards.

 

However, lawyers knowledgeable in federal food and drug law, as well as Aqua

Bounty Farms, disputed this idea, believing instead that the law enters into a

“gray area” regarding this issue. Aqua Bounty Farms added that they intended to

seek FDA approval before moving forward with their product. Experts say that it

is unlikely any company would proceed without FDA approval, as they would risk

significant negative publicity.

 

Genetically altered fish may offer some benefits. Aside from the greater

productivity mentioned above, other altered fish are being developed including

one that could produce a human drug with a blood clotting factor and others that

may be disease-resistant. Shellfish that do not provoke allergic reactions are

also being developed.

 

However, along with the issue of accidental exposure to the wild, another

concern is whether genetically altered fish accumulate mercury and other

environmental toxins at a rate faster than that of natural fish.

 

The report is based on a review of legal and scientific literature, as well as

interviews with experts, and is aimed to promote public discussion about

biotechnology and its regulation.

 

The Pew Initiative’s Original Report January 15, 2003

 

New York Times January 15, 2003

 

Washington Post January 14, 2003; Page E01

 

 

 

 

 

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

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Genetically modified fish are an absolute disaster waiting to happen. They can

provide no health benefit. The only reason why they are even being considered is

because the industry is operating under the assumption that fish farming is a

valid way to raise healthy fish.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Fish farming is the aquatic equivalent of the modern day cattle industry. If you

haven’t read Michael Pollen’s article from the New York Times on how your beef

is really raised I would encourage you to do so. It is a major eye opener.

 

The cattle are fed corn instead of the grass that they were designed to eat. As

a result the animals develop diseases they would never have acquired if they

were consuming their natural food. These diseases require the introduction of

antibiotics.

 

Additionally, the animals are given hormones to enhance their growth, and they

accumulate pesticides from the non-organic corn they are fed. The pesticides

then work their way into the animal’s fat, which we later consume.

 

As far as I can determine it is currently technologically and commercially

impractical to artificially raise healthy fish. It is possible to do this, but

the cost would be so high that very few people would be able to afford the fish.

 

The two primary concerns of raising fish are accumulations of heavy metal toxins

and pesticides from the ocean, and the quality of the food source that the fish

are fed.

 

Many of the fish are being fed corn and soy -- just like the cattle -- because

these foods are so inexpensive. These foods are not natural to the fish however,

and as a result the beneficial fatty acids like DHA and EPA that are naturally

found in fish are vastly diminished, if present at all, in most of these fish.

So these fish farmers are destroying the health benefits associated with eating

fish -- one of the primary reasons why the majority of consumers seek this food.

 

So now that it is established that currently it is impractical and commercially

impossible to raise healthy fish on fish farms, you may be wondering about the

consequences of introducing these genetically altered creatures into fish farms.

 

The fish farmers would be delighted because it would increase their profits.

These fish grow twice as fast as normal fish and cost significantly less to

raise. However, the fish pose a significant threat to the environment should

they escape. But, as the history of fish farming suggests, it is not a question

of if these farmed fished will escape from their pens -- it is a question of

when.

 

Many times the owners of the fish farms will intentionally release the fish,

because it is more cost effective for them to do so. They do this when their

fish become irreversibly infected with disease due to their extremely

overcrowded growing conditions.

 

Current regulations require such owners to dispose of the fish in a safe

landfill, but this is very costly. Instead, farmers may claim their nets ripped

accidentally, allowing them to save the very large disposal fees; the farmers

are rarely, if ever, penalized for these infractions.

 

So eventually it seems inevitable that there will be millions of these

genetically modified fish, which have never been scientifically evaluated to

determine their influence on wild species, free in the wild. The consequences of

this could be devastating.

 

The best-case scenario would be that the altered fish could not successfully

breed or reproduce and therefore would die out. The worse case is that they

would be a Trojan horse and successfully breed into the wild species. The

resulting offspring may not be able to compete in the wild, and this new species

would be rapidly transformed into an endangered species, one that could quite

possibly become extinct.

 

It is a sad fact that we are gradually eliminating healthy food options from the

planet. It is not very difficult to speculate what the health of future

generations will be when they are deprived of the very fuel that is necessary to

maintain their health.

 

The potential outcome is beyond tragic as we quite literally have the ability to

exterminate or seriously endanger our own human species from through the

implementation of shortsighted decisions.

 

As I said after recently posting a Los Angeles Times article on the dangers of

fish farms:

 

Many people will choose to eat fish at a restaurant because they believe it is

one of the healthier choices on the menu, but the sad reality is that technology

has transformed fish into an unhealthy choice. Traditionally caught fish are a

problem due to the mercury and PCBs they receive from polluted waters.

Farm-raised fish, which are raised in the same water, have the same issues with

PCBs and mercury.

 

However, nearly all fish sold in restaurants have the problems discussed in the

story above. Not only will you not get many of the beneficial omega-3 oils

because of what the fish are fed, but the fish themselves are very unhealthy,

much like factory-raised cattle.

 

This story provides compelling reasons why you should seriously reconsider

eating fish at nearly all restaurants.

 

Although I don’t advocate eating fish unless it has been tested and found to be

free of mercury and other toxins, the best type of omega-3 fats are those found

in fish. This type of omega-3 is high in two fatty acids crucial to human

health, DHA and EPA, which are pivotal in preventing heart disease, cancer, and

many other diseases.

 

Routine consumption of fish oil, rich in EPA and DHA, is highly encouraged as it

is in pure form and does not pose the mercury risk of fresh fish. It is

important to obtain a high-quality oil to ensure that it is pure. I have tried

various brands, but the one brand my patients and I have experienced outstanding

success with, and that I can recommend highly, is Carlson’s fish oil and cod

liver oil, which is now available in my " Recommended Products " section. You may

also be able to find it at your local health food store. Carlson's is regularly

tested by an independent FDA registered laboratory and is of high potency and

purity.

 

Related Articles:

 

Heart Disease Linked to Mercury-Contaminated Fish

 

 

 

Why You Should Stop Eating Fish

 

Mercury and Seafood Linked to Infertility

 

FDA Negligent On Mercury in Fish

 

 

 

Discover How Your Beef is Really Raised

 

 

 

 

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