Ina fight for survival, the normal coho salmon lost to the aggressivegenetically modified salmon known as "frankenfish."
Scientists found when genetically modified (GM) salmon were keptin the same tank as normal salmon, the GM salmon devoured theirsmaller-sized competitors and even ate their own kind. A tank thatonce held 50 animals ended up with only a few GM fish survivors.This finding supported the theory that negative consequences resultedfrom a lack of food supplies. It also raised the concerns of researcherson the potential harmful effects of releasing GM fish into naturalwaters.
The concern has become more of a reality as the Aqua Bounty Farmsrequested the FDA’s approval to market a modified salmon thatwould grow at a rate 50 times faster than normal salmon.
Some researchers claimed this GM salmon would benefit both fishfarmers and consumers in terms of lower costs.
What Could Happen if These GM Fish EscapeInto the Natural Environment?
The already vulnerable natural salmon supply would face furtherdanger if they had to compete with GM fish for food supply and mates,which could eventually force the natural fish to extinction. Thisis also known as the "Trojan gene" hypothesis.
Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Atlantic salmon from farmsfound their way into the Northwest waters after a series of stormsand roving sea lions tore open their floating tanks.
Aqua Bounty Farm’s answer to the escapees trying to reproducein the natural environment was to raise only sterile females inthe tanks. Other studies showed that if the GM fish escaped intothe natural environment, their chances of survival was minimal dueto their increased likelihood of contracting disease and their unawarenessto the threats of predators.
While it was found that GM fish grew much quicker than normal fish,they weren’t significantly bigger once they reached full-growth.
SeattleTimes June 8, 2004