Summary The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research will continue to release sterile farmed salmon into the sea, despite the fact that the Norwegian Environment Agency has rejected their application. The purpose of the project is that if farmed salmon is 100 per cent sterile, escaped fish will not be able to mix genes with wild salmon. But the Science Committee for Food and the Environment has concluded that the experiment could, in the worst case, lead to catastrophic effects on wild salmon stocks. Head of research Anna Wargelius at the Institute of Marine Research believes that the current regulations are not up to date and that targeted mutation that results in sterile salmon is not genetic modification in the traditional sense. She believes that the governing powers demand 100 percent security and that this is an extreme variant of the precautionary principle. She plans to apply for release again, with better knowledge of what is required to obtain a permit. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – We hope to produce a new generation of sterile fish this autumn or next autumn. Then I will apply once more to release sterile salmon into the sea. That’s according to head of research Anna Wargelius at the Marine Research Institute (HI). Last year, HI applied to place 303 genetically engineered, sterile salmon in cages in the fjord at its research station in Matre in Nordhordland. A ground-breaking attempt. This would be the first time in the world that genetically edited salmon has been released into a natural marine environment. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research was rejected for the experiment, but will apply again. Aim: to preserve the genes of the wild salmon The main aim of the research project is to achieve 100% sterility in the offspring of farmed salmon. The aim is to find a solution for the aquaculture industry where escaped farmed salmon cannot destroy the genes of the wild salmon strains. The introduction of genes from farmed salmon is one of the major threats to the natural wild salmon. The point is that if certain farmed salmon escape from the facility – something that happens often – this fish will not be able to interbreed – i.e. mate – with wild salmon. Here at the research facility at Matre in Masfjorden, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research is seeking permission for what could be the world’s first experiment with genetically engineered salmon in cages out in the sea. Photo: Christine Fagerbakke / Institute of Marine Research I think the study could have a catastrophic effect The Science Committee for Food and the Environment (VKM) last year called for reliable documentation that the experimental salmon cannot mate with wild salmon and spread sterility. According to the committee, it cannot be ruled out that some of the test fish are carriers of a sterility allele so that they can still have offspring. – Our conclusion is that the experiment is associated with a potentially high environmental risk. This was said by the science committee’s spokesperson, Kjetil Hindar, when news reported on the study and the committee’s assessment in October. The committee believed that even if it is unlikely that sterility genes from the experimental fish will be spread to wild salmon, it would be catastrophic in that case. – The ecological effect on wild salmon stocks, if this happens, is very large. Although HI took several rounds this winter to convince them that the study is safe, the committee stuck to its assessment. And at the end of May, the conclusion came: The Norwegian Environment Agency rejected the application from the Institute of Marine Research (see fact box). The Science Committee and the Norwegian Environment Agency fear that, in the worst case, sterile experimental salmon could destroy wild salmon strains with sterility, completely contrary to the aim of the study. Photo: Knut-Sverre Horn / news The directorate’s refusal to release sterile salmon into the sea The Norwegian Environment Agency decided on 29 May 2024 that the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (HI) may not release sterile experimental fish in sea cages in Matre in Nordhordland. Sterile farmed salmon The Genetic Technology Act regulates, among other things, the production and release of genetically modified organisms (GMO) into the environment. The law requires thorough assessments, which must ensure the environment and health before a release. In addition, emphasis must be placed on whether the release is beneficial to society and contributes to sustainable development. – Research and the development of a sterile farmed salmon can be a socially beneficial purpose, and in the long term contribute to sustainable development. But for this trial launch there is a risk of spreading sterility to wild salmon stocks. It is therefore not possible to give approval according to the regulations, said environmental director Ellen Hambro. The Biotechnology Council had also commented on the matter. The council believed that this trial launch could be beneficial to society and contribute to promoting sustainable development, but they saw as premises that the risk of genetic influence on wild salmon is avoided. Possible serious consequences for wild salmon The Science Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has, commissioned by the Norwegian Environment Agency, assessed the health and environmental risks of release. – If one of the genetically modified fish is not sterile, he can still carry the property of sterility in his genetic material and pass it on to the next generation. If sterility is spread from genetically modified salmon that escape, VKM’s calculations show that it can have serious and irreversible consequences for wild salmon, said Hambro. VKM assessed that, although there is a very low likelihood of this, spread to a wild salmon population can be found even with a few experimental fish. In a forecast, they show that the characteristics of sterility can, in the worst case, be passed on for several generations of wild salmon stocks. The Norwegian Environment Agency considers the pressure on wild salmon populations to be great, and the amount of salmon that comes from the sea to Norway each year has more than halved since the 1980s. In 2021, the wild fox was listed on the Norwegian Red List for species, in the category near threatened. It is not possible to reduce the risk of the experiment The Norwegian Environment Agency has assessed whether it is possible to reduce the proven risk of the experiment through risk-reducing measures. A risk-reducing measure the applicant has stated is to use double cages to prevent escape. According to VKM, double cages do not necessarily provide enough extra security against escape compared to standard breeding cages. – The Norwegian Environment Agency considers that the applicant’s proposed risk-reducing measures are not sufficient to prevent escape, and that these cannot therefore reduce risk sufficiently for this attempt, according to Hambro. Little knowledge of other ecological effects VKM points out that it has not been investigated whether the genetic modification can have effects on the behavior of the fish, since the applicant has not carried out experiments to study this in its closed experimental facilities. There is therefore a lack of knowledge about how the genetically modified fish will behave in the environment. – The law requires that, as a general rule, deployment can only be done in stages. The Norwegian Environment Agency considers that there is no basis for granting an exception to the main rule on gradual release in this case, says Hambro. The salmon in the experiment has been genetically modified using a new method called gene editing. Changes have been made to the salmon’s own genes, without introducing genetic material from other organisms. There is currently no adapted guidance for risk assessment of gene-edited organisms. It is now being drawn up in the EU. Research into gene-edited animals is in an early phase, and much new knowledge can be expected in the area. Source: Press release from the Norwegian Environment Agency 29 May 2024 Too late to appeal The long appeal process has meant that the 303 fish have become too large anyway – 3.2 kilos. Wargelius will therefore not appeal the refusal. But she is not giving up on the research project or the sub-study on sterile salmon in sea cages. – I will carry on with the research that I have planned, and will apply for release again. Now I know a lot more about what is required to get a licence. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research is not allowed to release these 303 genetically engineered salmon into sea cages, but will apply for a license once more. Photo: ERLEND ASTAD LORENTZEN / MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE – Outdated regulations Wargelius believes that the current regulations are not up to date. – The regulations are from the late 1990s. It is made with transgenic organisms in mind. But now I have new technology to create single mutations. The regulations are not adapted to current knowledge and technology. – Inserting foreign genetic material is something different than just targeting and changing something that is already there. The latter can also happen completely naturally, with natural mutations. Research manager Anna Wargelius at the Institute of Marine Research. Photo: Erlend Astad Lorentzen / Institute of Marine Research – Sterile salmon are not genetically modified Wargelius believes that the research fish of the Institute of Marine Research are not genetically modified in the traditional sense. – I have not added any extraneous DNA here. We have made targeted mutations. In short: the researchers have “turned on sterility”, not adding genes from other organisms to the salmon. She points out that the EU is working to change the regulations for plants, so that targeted mutations are not considered genetic modification. – But the Norwegian Environment Agency calls your experiment genetic modification anyway? – Absolutely, because that’s how the regulations are. Both they and I have to deal with that. But I think with this process I have had to explore and test the regulations. Farmed salmon escaping in large quantities from facilities with damaged cage netting is a recurring problem (the illustration has no connection with escaping). Photo: Grieg Seafood “Extreme precaution” She hopes the governing authorities will prepare a template for the requirements they see. – There is the remotest chance that it is a human error, which causes them to say no to our study, if I understand it correctly. I have done it as solidly as I can, but they allowed zero risk. – A kind of extreme variant of the precautionary principle? – Yes, they demand 100 percent security. Then you have to test with many more animals than you are used to in research, and confirm the results at least three times. We have learned that authority requirements are something different from research requirements, notes Wargelius. If you need a “breeding for dummies”, you can enjoy this one: Published 22.07.2024, at 21.31
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The Norwegian Environment Agency said no, but marine researchers want to experiment with genetically modified salmon in the wild – news Vestland
