The Norwegian Surroundings Company says no to experiments with genetically modified salmon within the wild

– The Norwegian Surroundings Company considers that there’s a threat of environmental harm, though the chance of this taking place may be very low, says director Ellen Hambro of the Norwegian Surroundings Company in a press launch.

– Based mostly on an general evaluation of the circumstances within the Genetic Engineering Act, we conclude that these haven’t been met for this trial, she says.

It’s researchers on the Institute of Marine Analysis who’ve utilized for the allow. The aim of it was to keep away from farmed salmon that escape affecting the wild salmon’s genetic materials, as escaped farmed salmon can do right now.

In accordance with the Norwegian Surroundings Company, that is the primary time an software has been made for the discharge of genetically modified fish in Europe.

Nonetheless, the environmental threat is taken into account too excessive. In accordance with the Science Committee for Meals and Surroundings (VKM), it can’t be dominated out that a few of the take a look at fish are carriers of a sterility gene and may thus have offspring. As well as, the Norwegian Surroundings Company considers the strain on the wild salmon inhabitants to be nice.

– If sterility is unfold from genetically modified salmon that escape, VKM’s calculations present that it might have critical and irreversible penalties for wild salmon, concludes Hambro.