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California Considering Ban on GE Fish

Los Angeles Times

February 28, 2002

State Lawmakers Seek to Bar Gene-Altered Fish

BY MELINDA FULMER, TIMES STAFF WRITER

California lawmakers, environmentalists and fishermen are joining
together to stop the spread of genetically engineered fish into the
state.

Two bills and a joint resolution recently introduced in the Legislature
would bar live gene-altered fish from entering the state or require
special labeling when sold in California stores.

California would be the second U.S. state to take action. A less
stringent Maryland law adopted last year bans the fish from state's
network of waterways but allows them in separated ponds and lakes.
Federal action in Maine also has declared these new types of fish
off-limits to protect the endangered Atlantic salmon.

"I would call this [legislation] a preemptive strike," said Karen Reyna
of the Ocean Conservancy, which is concerned that transgenic salmon and
other fish could escape from ocean pens and breed with unaltered salmon,
shortening their life spans and reducing their numbers.

Several East Coast firms are trying to develop stocks of transgenic
salmon and catfish to be sold to fish farmers. These fish, spliced with
genes from faster-growing species, would let farmers get bigger fish to
market for less money.

A representative of the aquaculture business in California said his
members are still studying the technology and haven't taken a position
on the measures.

"There could be many social benefits in having some form of genetic
engineering," said Justin Malan, executive director of the California
Aquaculture Assn.

Malan noted that some interspecies hybridization already has occurred
naturally.

"Just look at the hybrid striped bass," Malan said. "Sharing genes
between species can occur in the wild."

The concern of scientists is that these large fish, which have a mating
advantage in the wild, would produce offspring ill-equipped to survive.
Some research has shown that genetically altered fish die earlier than
those unaltered.

Conservationists said there are inadequate state and federal regulations
to protect native fish populations and the heath of humans.

Under SB 1525, sponsored by state Sen. Byron Sher (D-Stanford),
genetically engineered salmon and other fish would be classified as an
aquatic nuisance species. People convicted of possessing live transgenic
fish or planting them into state waters could be subject to a fine of up
to $50,000.

A bill in the Assembly, AB 2962, would require labeling of all
transgenic fish in supermarkets.