Pollack, A. (2015, November 19). Genetically Engineered Salmon Approved for Consumption. Retrieved November 22, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/20/business/genetically-engineered-salmon-approved-for-consumption.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/science&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pg

Federal regulators from the FDA approved a genetically engineered salmon from Aquabounty Tech for consumption on Thursday. The approval was aggressively opposed by environmental activists who argued that studies were inadequate and that the genes from genetically modified salmon could contaminate wild salmon populations. FDA officials say that the approval process took so long because it was the first approval of its kind. The fish will not have to be labeled as genetically engineered, a precedent set when the FDA approved genetically engineered crops. However, companies can voluntarily label salmon as genetically or not genetically engineered. The approval could aid in other’s efforts to gain approval for genetically modified animals.

This article relates to the biological aspect of environmental science, since the fish are being genetically modified. It will be incredibly interesting to see the long term effects (and perhaps ramifications) of this decision. On one hand, the fish alleviate the environmental concern of overfishing by providing a fish that grows to market weight within 18 months (it typically takes 3 years). However, the consequences could be dire. If only a few of the genetically modified salmon mix with wild salmon populations, they could outcompete and pollute the gene pool. The consequences would be astronomical. The FDA didn’t incorporate this risk into their analysis, and it could cost the United States in the long term.