The nature and current status of Transgenic Atlantic Salmon

Abstract

This study was commissioned by the Irish Marine Institute in response to a Ministerial request from the Department of the Marine. The definition of Genetically Modified fish (GMO) that we use throughout this report is of fish that have a gene added from the same or another species, i.e. transgenics. This is a narrow definition, in that it excludes products of sex manipulation or ploidy manipulation, but is the one accepted by, for example, the European Union (Council Directive 90/220/EEC, Anon. 1990). We were asked to address a number of questions, viz. 1. Current "state of the art" in salmon genetic engineering. 2. What is available commercially and what commercial strains would be attractive to Irish interests? 3. What is the potential impact of transgenic Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in general? 4. What particular concerns would there be if a strain currently being reared in Scotland, were to be introduced to Ireland? 5. Are current ED Directives sufficient to protect Irish interests. If not what changes should be proposed? 6. What research is required to clarify the issues? This report was produced within twenty days of the initial request and thus we were confined largely to the literature that was available locally, though we were able to talk to some people who have various areas of expertise in the field and these people, who are listed in the acknowledgements, provided useful discussion and additional literature. One other point that should be made is that this is a very rapidly expanding field and the material described here will rapidly become dated.