Genetically Modified Atlantic Salmon:

Another event that may be of interest to Food Security Network members…..

Genetically Modified Atlantic Salmon:
PEI is at the center of the global controversy

* Monday October 24, 2011, 7:00pm-9:00pm *

The Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, Georgian Ballroom, 75 Kent Street, Charlottetown, PEI

Will PEI be the world’s supplier of genetically modified (GM) Atlantic salmon eggs? The small US company AquaBounty wants to produce GM salmon eggs on PEI – the first-ever GM food animal – to grow-out in Panama and sell to US consumers. What are the risks for wild Atlantic salmon? What’s happening in Canada? Does PEI have a say?

*Speakers:*

• Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Ottawa
• Eric Hoffman, Biotechnology Policy Campaigner, Friends of the Earth U.S., Washington DC
• Jaydee Hanson, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Food Safety, Washington DC
• Leo Broderick, Vice Chair, Council of Canadians, PEI

This event will be followed by public forums in Fredericton Oct 25, Halifax Oct 26, St. John’s Oct 27.
For more details:http://www.cban.ca/events

Presented by: The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Center for Food Safety U.S., Conservation Council of New Brunswick, PEI and St. John’s Chapters of the Council of Canadians, EarthAction PEI, Ecology Action Centre Nova Scotia, Fundy Baykeeper, PEI Health Coalition, Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network, Friends of the Earth U.S., Sierra Club Atlantic Canada.

For more information on genetically modified fish :http://www.cban.ca/fish

*Summary:*

The small US company AquaBounty is asking the U.S. to approve its genetically engineered (also called genetically modified or GM) Atlantic salmon for human consumption. The company claims its “AquAdvantage” salmon can grow to market-size twice as fast as other farmed salmon. The Atlantic salmon are engineered with a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon and genetic material from ocean pout (an eel-like creature).

The company is not asking for approval to grow the fish in the U.S. but plans to
produce all of its GM salmon eggs on PEI, ship the eggs to Panama for grow-out and processing, and then sell “table-ready” GM salmon to U.S. consumers.

AquaBounty does not yet have permission from Environment Canada to produce GM salmon eggs at it’s PEI facility but the department refuses to say if it is currently assessing a request from the company. Health Canada also refuses to say if AquaBounty has asked to have the GM salmon approved for human consumption in Canada. There are no public consultations.

Any risk of GM Atlantic salmon escaping into the wild is unacceptable, especially
when Atlantic salmon are already in danger of disappearing. Join us to discuss these and other important questions – Come out to hear who is making the decisions, what is happening in the U.S., and how PEI is at the center of the global controversy over GM fish.

For more information on genetically modified fish :http://www.cban.ca/fish

Please note that this is not a PEI Food Security Network initiative. For more information on this event, please contact the coordinators directly. Thanks!

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