A Review: Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms Volume 3

ISBN 13 9781 84593 2961

In 2007, 44 authors from 19 countries came together to produce this publication on risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMO). The authors came from developing and developed countries. 

 

This is the third book in the series and its topic is transgenic fish. AR Kapuscinski, Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, edited this volume along with Professor S Li, Director, Aquatic Genetic Resources Laboratory, Shanghai Fisheries University, K.R. Hayes, Risk Analyst, CSIRO Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research and G. Dana, PhD Student, Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota.

Fish are a key food source to the world; almost all nations of the world depend on fish.

For the past 100 years we have seen the fishing industry grow with the development of new technologies and these technologies have impacted on the wild fish stock to such a level that many wild stocks of fish are in serious decline. During this time we have also seen the growth of aquaculture, and in recent years that growth has outmatched the traditional fishing industry.

Expanding facilities improved breeding technique of certain species has supported the increasing growth of aquaculture along with increases in quality and quantity of inputs. Also over the past two decades an increased interest in the potential of transgenic fish to increase aquaculture production. The primary aim of transgenic fish has been to increase productivity and to develop model species for research.

 

Chapter one introduces environmental risk assessment for transgenic fish, covering a range of potential impacts on the environment and estimates the probability and magnitude of those impacts. This chapter also suggests a framework for risk assessments that would improve the assessments scientific validity. 

 

Chapter two looks at problem formulation and options assessment: science-guided deliberation in environmental risk assessment of transgenic fish. Looking at how these options could be used in the different countries of the authors. 

 

Chapter three covers the development of transgenic fish scientific background with an overview of important steps in fish transgenesis, status of development looking at different species. Also other future applications of transgenic fish, as well as trails with crustaceans and molluscs and key research and capacity needs for further development of transgenic fish.

In later chapters the book deals with gene construct and expression, approaches to assessing gene flow. Assessing ecological effects of transgenic fish prior to entry into nature, the introduction to concepts and methods of uncertainty analysis. Risk management, reducing risk through confinement and post approval monitoring and remediation. The final chapter deals with risk assessment of transgenic fish: synthesis and conclusions. 

 

This book allows us to understand the process of how and why risk assessments are so important in the area of genetically modified organisms. 

 

Aquaculture is a major industry globally that is diminishing our dependency on the wild catch fishing industry and reducing the impact on the wild fish stock. So with the development transgenic species we need to be aware and careful of how we use this knowledge. This book is an important book for those that are involved in genetics and also to the many corporations involved in aquaculture: As well as the policy makers of the world’s governments. 

This blog is written by Martin Little The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers