White Papers :
Aquaculture
- Case Study: Growth-Enhanced Salmon
This case study concerns the potential aquaculture production or importation of
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) genetically engineered to contain an additional fish
growth hormone gene that is intended to make the Atlantic salmon grow faster and use
feed more efficiently. In general, brood stocks of such fish would be raised in
conventional inland hatcheries, where brood stock would be treated to produce 100%
genetically female eggs. The eggs would then be treated to cause reproductive sterility
(triploidy). The reproductively sterile, all-female offspring would be grown initially in
hatcheries and then to maturity in ocean net pens, before being harvested for food. The
ability of hatchery managers to ensure reproductive sterility is currently high but less than
100%. Therefore, escapes of fish from net pens may include some females that are
capable of reproduction.
CEQ/OSTP Assessment: Case Studies of Environmental Regulation for Biotechnology January, 2001