Hello Prof. A.M.R. Abdel-Mawgoud

It is indeed worrisome if you look at the salmons as a single entity but considering the individual species the scenario may just look a bit different- For example, if you consider the Sockeye Salmon, then conversion of 5 Kg of food to add 1 Kg of biomass concept falls short since they are almost exclusively planktivorous. Salmons grown is commercial captivities are mostly fed on ground fish meal. Faster rate of growth does not always translate to larger volume of feed consumed but also to the metabolism of the animal to how efficiently the feed in being converted to biomass. In nature different fish populations have different rate of growth and feeding ratios and the faster growth rate of certain species haven't put a dent in the population in the slow growers in nature.

The introduction of bio-engineered salmons will normally or exclusively come from fish farms where they won't impact the population of their live prey in any manner. Release of genetically modified salmon to the wild with the hopes that the genetics remain the same over a period of interbreeding with natural salmon is a risk the companies responsible for the development of the GMO salmons won't take, in my humble opinion. In nature the fast growth rate of these salmons would be their biggest downfall compared to the conventional ones. Since they are not to be released in nature, I don't believe there is any threat of ecological imbalance owing to them immediately.

Eggs from such modified salmons will never get to the ocean since they spawn in freshwater. The only threat comes from the open sea net or sea cages in terms of competing with natural salmons for food, but due to their limitation in free locomotion, the effect is also minimalised. If they are to be grown in hatcheries with recirculating aquaculture systems, even this threat is also marginalised. There are many negative impacts of salmon farming on the environment using sea cages as evidenced by a large volume of data but that is an entirely different issue to what we are asking.

Growing GMO salmons may actually expedite the damage but the damage is already being done to the salmon's natural population even today with the culture of conventional salmons and rectification stands entirely on the shoulders of the policy makers and farm owners.

In essence its all about time and we need to wait and watch the extent of changes brought about by this new addition to the GMO animal horde. Its rather irrational to vilify something or feel apprehensive about something new simply because of the fact that it is new and unconventional. If its proven to be detrimental, how long do you think it will take to disappear from the shelves?

Regards,

Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee

I am of the opinion that All that God made was and is perfect. He made everything with a purpose. All the systems happening in what is governing the movement and interaction of atoms to the movement of galaxies and constellations are balanced and has been well executed even with major interruptions in HIS plans. It was man and other God's creatures who made and will make it imperfect. The problems we have now and the imbalance we had and we have now in the human body, in the weather and other things are because of these parties trying to become GOD.

Bioengineering is a good subject to study and with a good purpose like to increase food production for a burgeoning population. Bioengineered chicken fed a lot of people and will feed more, and maybe bioengineered fish, could, too. But if we are talking about changing DNA's, man does not have the bigger picture of how it will affect the whole species, family, etc and the ones who will eat it. And the user of these bioengineered technologies could be used for a different purpose by people who will not care about the impact on human and animal lives. There is no legislation or regulation that can govern or control the morality of human actions.

The danger may not be apparent to this generation... but it could be in the next.

I had the experience of growing Hybrid Striped Bass from fingerlings to marketable size of 1.0 to 1.5 lbs in 18 to 20 months and lowered the time to 10-15 months with about 1 month in the nursery tanks using the manipulation and combination of water current, feed, additives on feed, temperature and feeding frequencies with the help of probiotics before probiotics in fish has been talked about in 1990's. No genetic manipulation on DNA's, as what was done in chickens. We have done it in Tilapia as well, but at a shorter time. No data is available as it was under company's protection.

Thank you Dr Abhishek Mukherjee and Dr Ruth Posadas for your contributions. Because I am a horticulturist I am pleased to get this information however in all biological systems there are risks of developing new genetic modification that we may not recognize its dangerous on human health or on the biological balance until the damages are already done. in addition sometimes this damages are not revisable and this makes it more dangerous. although bioengineered salmon has been approved by what all the world consider as the highest tough approving agency (US-FDA), the same agency has approved many other things that came out after many years to be dangerous to human health or the environment. some people will debate that its only an amino acid that was introduced and it is also from fish. but let us remember that it may be only one enzyme or protein that will be built up using this amino acid to cause a disease or cancer on the long run. As a researcher I am not afraid of new development but I would like to be more caution specially with GMO because most of the time it is risky to play with it.

Not very sure-Risk Assessment is needed

A.M.R. Abdel-Mawgoud

Dear Professor,

In your discussion you had explicitly refrained from talking about the impact of GMO on human health and it was about its effect on the environment. And I didn't know Researchgate was a theistic preaching platform either (personal opinions should at best be kept for a more specific avenue).

Anyways, it was a good discussion and I thank you for it; and I am may be more aware than many regarding the lurking dangers of genetically modified products. But I ask anyone who try to look down upon such efforts at every chance - Can you say it to the 4 billion or so people of planet Earth who do not receive a square meal a day that we have the means to satiate them but choose not too and prefer dwindling the natural resources instead?

Thanking you,

Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee

I have read that some salmon producing companies already refused to use such fish. this make a big question mark about this type of fish.

I think there must be a risk assessment for quite some time before using it.