HB2143 Relating to genetically engineered finfish

[gonnahookit]

Interesting.

HB 2143 - Prohibits the production of genetically engineered finfish in state waters.

HB 2143 regarding genetically modified fish was introduced by Rep Condotta (R) this week. The bill would make it a fish and wildlife gross misdemeanor for each genetically engineered salmon that is produced. It would also make it illegal under the state health code to sell genetically engineered salmon.

(1) The legislature finds that nature has provided little to the people of the Pacific Northwest with a greater cultural, ecological, and economic value as the native runs of wild salmon that nurse in our local waters and, after an unimaginable journey, return home to repeat the ageless cycle. Although the natural rhythm of the salmonid pulses without human intervention, choices made by the residents of Washington can have a dramatic effect on the continuance of the very species that has served as a cornerstone of northwest culture for countless generations.
(2) The legislature further finds that the value of salmon exceeds culture, economy, and even the environment. Salmon, as a food source, represent a very need of human existence. So much so that an important and well-intended industry has taken to Washington waters and harnessed its clean, cool properties to raise salmon and other finfish in net pens.
(3) The legislature further finds that, although great investments continue to be made in net pen technology to avoid escapes, the use of genetically modified finfish in net pens create an unacceptable risk to the native salmon of the Pacific Northwest; genetics that are developed specifically and irreplaceably for each individual run of salmon.

(1) "Genetically engineered" means any organism or organisms in which the genetic material of the organism or organisms has been changed through the application of in vitro nucleic acid techniques or the direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles of the organism or organisms.

(1) No person may produce genetically engineered finfish in state waters.
(2) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor. Each instance of a genetically engineered salmonid being produced is an individual violation of this section.

Full document here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdo ... s/2143.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ncwflounderer]

all farmed fish should be triploided, IMO

[Bodofish]

Triploiding, (Is that a new word or term....) the fish is a good one but much better would be to only raise species native to the state, minimizing the effect of any escape. The tough one to get around is non-native species invading our waters through escape.
Making the fish triploid is not a 100% thing. There's a fine line between making them sterile and killing them. If memory serves, the process in the 90% effective area. Nature has a habit of finding a way.

[ncwflounderer]

Triploid, triploided, triploiding- whatever. I know it isn't perfect, but does reduce the risk of non native species competing against native fish populations. I think the process is somewhere between 95 and 100% effective, not perfect, but a step in the right direction.

[fishinChristian]

I know that's their definition of genetic engineering, but really farmers have been doing it for centuries through selective breeding. Going from wild cattle to the ton sized behemoths available today would be shocking to our ancestors, and these Dolly Parton chickens would have tham yelling "Witchcraft!" I'm glad they are protecting the natural runs, but paranoia about gentech is getting strange... or maybe it's already arrived. Now, downstream of Hanford... Why, just look at Portland!

[Bodofish]

Triploid, triploided, triploiding- whatever. I know it isn't perfect, but does reduce the risk of non native species competing against native fish populations. I think the process is somewhere between 95 and 100% effective, not perfect, but a step in the right direction.

Combine that with only using native species and it's a winner.

In the 80's the Lummi's got tired of their pen reared Coho project and just released a few million of the 2# wonders into the North Sound. They were running around trying to figure out where to spawn for quite some time and you couldn't keep them off your line. Nothing like Awesome planning!!!!