AquaBounty Gets FDA Approval to Sell its GM Salmon in US Market, Ending 20-Year Hold Up
AquaBounty Technologies has finally earned FDA approval to sell its genetically modified AquAdvantage Atlantic salmon in the US market. The approval ends a 20-year long process in passing AquaBounty's New Animal Drug Application for the GM salmon product that grows twice as fast a normal farmed Atlantic salmon. The passage confirms years of scientific research that has repeatedly found the salmon is both safe for human consumption and environmentally responsible. "AquAdvantage Salmon is a game-changer that brings healthy and nutritious food to consumers in an environmentally responsible manner without damaging the ocean and other marine habitats," said Ronald L. Stotish, CEO of AquaBounty.
Alaskan crab and shrimp in the Haines area have record levels of PSP-inducing toxins according to an assessment of the area by the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association. Species were tested in the Chilkoot Inlet, Taiyasanka Harbor and Viking Cove between May and June. Tests indicated the species all exceeded the FDA limit for the toxins. Dungeness crab viscera from Taiyasanka tested the highest for PSP.
In other news eight more Norwegian fish farms were told to cut their output by 50 percent from 2016 to 2018 due to sea lice. Two of the eight sites belonged to Salmar, two were owned by Leroey Seafood and two by Emilsen Fisk AS, while Marine Harvest and Midt-Norsk Havbruk had one each.
Finally, we run an interview with B Madhusoodana Kurup, the Vice-Chancellor of the Indian state of Kerla, discussing the region's goals for its shrimp industry. Kurup says Kerla wants to boost white shrimp production to around 50,000 tons by 2020, or about 10 percent of India's total estimated production. Kurup says Kerla is in a better position to boost production compared with India"s other major shrimp producing states currently battling with disease issues since Kerla farmers have had time to improve their practices to mitigate disease risk.
To Read Full Story Login Below.