Question
27. An aquaculture research corporation based in Prince Edward Island has created a variety of transgenic salmon that grows ten times faster than normal salmon. a) What are the potential advantages of this transgenic fish? b) What are the potential risks associated with this fish? c) What regulations would you recommend to govern the use of this fish in commercial fish -farming operations?
Solution
4.3
(209 Votes)
Willow
Veteran ยท Tutor for 10 years
Answer
a) **Potential Advantages of Transgenic Salmon:*** **Increased Productivity:** The primary advantage is a drastically reduced time to market. Growing ten times faster means farmers can produce more salmon in a shorter period, potentially increasing profits and meeting the growing global demand for seafood.* **Lower Production Costs:** Faster growth could translate to lower costs associated with feed, labor, and maintaining facilities over a shorter growth cycle.* **Potentially Reduced Environmental Impact (with careful management):** If farmed more efficiently, transgenic salmon *could* reduce pressure on wild fish stocks and minimize the environmental footprint of aquaculture (e.g., less waste produced per unit of fish). This advantage is highly dependent on responsible farming practices.* **Enhanced Nutritional Value (potential):** Genetic modification could be used to enhance the nutritional content of the salmon, such as increasing omega-3 fatty acids.b) **Potential Risks of Transgenic Salmon:*** **Escape and Interbreeding with Wild Populations:** This is a major concern. If transgenic salmon escape into the wild and breed with native salmon, the altered genes could spread, potentially disrupting natural ecosystems and impacting wild salmon populations in unpredictable ways (e.g., outcompeting wild salmon for resources, altering food webs).* **Genetic Contamination:** Uncontrolled gene flow could lead to a loss of genetic diversity in wild salmon populations.* **Unforeseen Health Effects:** While research aims to ensure safety, there's always a possibility of unforeseen health consequences for humans consuming transgenic salmon or for other organisms in the ecosystem.* **Ethical Concerns:** Some people have ethical objections to consuming genetically modified organisms.* **Market Resistance:** Consumer acceptance of genetically modified foods varies. Negative public perception could impact the market for transgenic salmon.* **Development of Resistance in Parasites and Pathogens:** Faster growth rates could potentially make the fish more susceptible to disease, and the widespread use of transgenic salmon could accelerate the development of resistance to treatments in parasites and pathogens.c) **Recommended Regulations for Transgenic Salmon Farming:*** **Containment:** Strict physical containment measures are essential to prevent escape. This could include land-based closed containment systems or robust net-pen systems in the ocean with multiple layers of protection.* **Sterilization:** Making the transgenic salmon sterile (through triploidy or other methods) would prevent interbreeding with wild populations if escape does occur.* **Monitoring and Surveillance:** Regular monitoring of fish farms and surrounding waters is necessary to detect escapes early and assess any environmental impacts. Genetic monitoring of wild populations should also be conducted.* **Labeling and Transparency:** Clear labeling of transgenic salmon products is essential to allow consumers to make informed choices. Transparency throughout the production process should be encouraged.* **Environmental Impact Assessments:** Thorough environmental impact assessments should be required before any commercial farming operations are approved. These assessments should consider potential impacts on wild salmon populations, other aquatic organisms, and the overall ecosystem.* **Independent Scientific Review:** Independent scientific review of the safety and environmental risks of transgenic salmon is crucial to ensure objective evaluation.* **Contingency Plans:** Clear protocols should be in place to address any escapes or other unforeseen events.* **Adaptive Management Strategies:** Regulations should be adaptable based on ongoing research and monitoring data. This allows for adjustments to management practices as new information becomes available.* **International Collaboration:** Given the potential for transboundary impacts, international collaboration on regulations and monitoring is important.