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Biowatch

09/21/10 1:08 PM

#104704 RE: poorgradstudent #104690

Are the salmon genetically designed to be infertile? If so, why the concern about their cross breeding with native salmon?

Will the salmon spawn?


The no-brainer answer is "yes", unless they have a founder stock and the one's they sell are designed to be infertile.

Will the farmers be allowed to sustain the fish?


Unless the fish are infertile, what would stop them? They presumably have to sign a licensing agreement however.

What is the penalty for the salmon entering unguarded waters?


I doubt anybody knows the answer to that question at the present time.

There are plenty of invasive species already, including snakehead fish, starlings, zebra mussels, kudzu, and pine borers. Nobody was fined for importing them. Without a natural predator, they spread.
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/

Fish can't spread as easily as pollen, but can they cross-breed (presumably yes), and compete successfully if they grow so fast?

Is it a problem if they spread?
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DewDiligence

09/21/10 2:15 PM

#104715 RE: poorgradstudent #104690

Having a company like Monsanto send around "investigators" to spy on people's farms, and having the government turn around and allow the prosecution of its citizens for having done nothing…

I don’t get your objection. If purchased seed contains a license for one growing season only, why do you consider it Ok for a grower to reuse it the next season?