Fish

Description of product

The planned farming of edible fish (aquaculture) has gained importance in the last years. Yields have been increased and an increasing number of types of fish may be bred in this manner.

• Outpacing the traditional fresh-water fish trout and carp, the salmon has become the main product of fish farming.
• Fish farming also is possible for salt-water fish such as cod, halibut and turbot as well as for exotic fish such as tilapia.
• See also: salmon, fish preserves

Possible applications of gene technology

Genetic modification is conducted predominantly on fish with which planned farming is possible:

• salmon, trout, carp, also cod, turbot, halibut and tilapia.

The aim thereby is:

• accelerated growth and weight increase through transfer of regulation of genes which influence growth
• accommodation to deeper water temperatures through transfer of genes for "anti-frost proteins "
• resistance to pathogens (such as bacteria and viruses)

Approval: In the USA there exists an application for commercial farming of gm salmon that grows significantly faster. An official approval has not yet been granted. No applications for approval have been made in the EU and are not to be expected in the next years.

Applications of gene technology are possible in some feed additives used in fish farming:

• enzymes, e.g. xylanase, cellulase, glucanase, phytase
• vitamins: vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin C, biotn
• amino acids: lysine
• food colouring beta-carotene (pink colouring for flesh) in the farming of salmon and trout

Labelling feed: Feeds which contain raw material or added material from genetically modified organisms (GMO) are subject as such to labelling. Foodstuffs such as milk, meat or eggs from animals which have been fed with such feed nonetheless are not subject as such to labelling requirements.