So there's a company called Aqua Bounty Technologies that wants approval from the FDA to sell salmon that's been genetically manipulated to grow twice as fast as traditional Atlantic salmon.
Now if you're one of those pesky treehuggers that's concerned about this kind of genetic manipulation of our food, don't worry. Because Aqua Bounty's CEO said that he's eaten the fish, and they taste great.
Yeah, that's right. That should put your mind at ease.
You know what else tastes great? Chili cheese hot dogs from 7-11. But it doesn't mean I should be eating them!
Then again, at least I know biting into those delectable disease tubes that I'm eating something that isn't healthy.
But what about that monster salmon?
Are we going to know what we're eating?
Will it matter?
What happens if those frankenfish get out and start fish orgies with unsuspecting hens with low self esteem, just wanting to be loved?
A Solution to Overfishing
Aqua Bounty CEO Ronald Stotish recently said. . .
“We're not saying if they approve our salmon we're going to feed the world. But there's a general consensus that overfishing is a fact of life.”
General Consensus? What general consensus?
No asshole. Overfishing should not be shrugged off as “a fact of life.” We don't have to overfish. We just choose to overfish. Yes, it is a choice. The world will not starve if we fish responsibly.
But then again, who really wants to stop diving face first into steam trays of maple-glazed salmon on cruise ships and strip mall smorgasbords?
You know, maybe if we utilized our fish stocks responsibly instead of clear-cutting our oceans, streams and rivers of marine life, we wouldn't need to worry about overfishing. But no, that takes too much common sense. Plus, it requires us to be responsible consumers. And that just stinks of socialism!
Don't misunderstand me. I'm not against making a buck. I just have a problem making a buck when it's at the expense of our natural capital.
Then again, who knows. Maybe everything will be fine. Maybe nothing horrible will happen. But when it comes the health of our our fish stocks, it seems to me that we should be focusing more on the overfishing problem, and less on genetically screwing with the perfection that Mother Nature has provided.
R.T. Jones
** R.T. Jones is a researcher and writer for various investment publications.
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“The FDA is reviewing data submitted by AquaBounty, but their buff salmon might have higher levels of a cancer promoting hormone IGF-1, more antibiotics and more potentially life-threatening allergens,” said Jeffrey Smith, executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. “Has the FDA gone completely mad? Why are they trying to open the flood gates to a GE salmon—a move that will go down as one of the most asinine and dangerous ever made by our government?”
“The FDA is reviewing data submitted by AquaBounty, but their buff salmon might have higher levels of a cancer promoting hormone IGF-1, more antibiotics and more potentially life-threatening allergens,” said Jeffrey Smith, executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. “Has the FDA gone completely mad? Why are they trying to open the flood gates to a GE salmon—a move that will go down as one of the most asinine and dangerous ever made by our government?”