Is Wild Caught Salmon Genetically Modified?

Salmon is one of the most popular and nutritious fish on the market. Wild caught salmon like sockeye and coho are prized for their rich omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant content. However, there has been some confusion around whether wild salmon is genetically modified or not. The short answer is no – wild caught salmon available commercially has not been genetically engineered. However, there is a genetically engineered salmon now being farmed and sold in the US.

Wild Salmon is Not Genetically Modified

Wild caught salmon from the Pacific Ocean or Alaska that you buy in stores or restaurants has not been genetically altered, Salmon sold as “wild caught” are fish that were caught in their natural habitats by commercial fishermen This includes popular varieties like

Sockeye salmon
Coho salmon
Pink salmon
Chum salmon
Chinook salmon

These wild salmon are not genetically engineered and their DNA is natural, unlike genetically modified agricultural crops which have foreign genes inserted into their genome using laboratory techniques. So when you buy wild caught salmon, you can be confident it has not been genetically modified

Farmed Atlantic Salmon is Genetically Modified

In 2015, both Canada and the US gave their approval for a genetically modified type of farmed Atlantic salmon to be sold. Scientists at AquaBounty Technologies changed this salmon’s genes by combining growth hormone genes from Chinook salmon with genes from ocean pout.

The result is a salmon that grows to market size twice as fast as conventional farmed Atlantic salmon. This genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon is also sterile and all-female to prevent interbreeding with wild fish.

So salmon caught in the wild is not GMO, but there is now genetically modified farmed salmon on the market. But it’s only a small part of the world’s total farmed salmon production. Most farmed salmon is still conventionally bred.

Concerns Around Genetically Modified Salmon

Even though regulators have said that AquaBounty’s fast-growing AquAdvantage salmon is safe, many groups are worried about the risks:

Escape into the wild – Critics argue that if genetically engineered salmon escape, they could outcompete wild salmon populations for resources. Most facilities use land-based tanks and have containment measures to prevent escapes.
Health risks – Some claim genetically modified salmon may have lower nutritional value compared to wild caught fish, although data is lacking.
Environmental impact – Aquaculture can pollute waters with waste and chemicals. Using land-based tanks could isolate risks.
Labeling – In the US, genetically engineered salmon is now required to be labeled as such, so consumers can identify it.

While the FDA and Health Canada approved GMO salmon as safe to eat, the environmental, health and ethical concerns have led many consumers to call for banning genetically engineered salmon. For example, the activist Non-GMO Project has been campaigning to “Block GMO Salmon.”

Choosing Wild Caught vs Farmed Salmon

Wild caught salmon remains a healthy, natural choice that has not been genetically modified. If you want to avoid genetically engineered seafood, choose wild caught varieties over farmed Atlantic salmon. With some farmed salmon now GMO, wild caught Alaskan salmon is the best way to get all the benefits of salmon without any genetic alterations.

is wild caught salmon genetically modified

What is meant by “multiple redundant containment” in the context of AquAdvantage Salmon?

There are different levels and types of barriers to keep the AquAdvantage Salmon from escaping and starting new populations outside of the tanks they are raised in on land. This is called multiple redundant containment. For example, for physical containment there are multiple screens and filters throughout both facilities. There are two separate but complementary ways to keep biological diversity in check: making only one sex of fish and using triploidy induction to make the female fish sterile (this is done to finfish and shellfish to stop them from becoming sexually mature and make them sterile). In addition, there are geographical/geophysical containment features that would not be supportive of salmon survival.

Are AquAdvantage Salmon more susceptible to disease than non-GE salmon?

No. There is no evidence to support the claim that AquAdvantage Salmon are more likely to get sick than farm-raised Atlantic salmon that are not genetically modified. This is because they are raised in the same aquaculture conditions.

Farm Raised Salmon EXPOSED…what you’re actually eating.

FAQ

What brand of salmon is genetically modified?

AquAdvantage salmon is a genetically engineered (GE) fish, a GE Atlantic salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies in 1989.

Are genetically modified salmon safe to eat?

The salmon are safe to eat, the introduced DNA is safe for the fish itself, and the salmon meet the sponsor’s claim about faster growth.

What is the difference between GMO salmon and normal salmon?

However, farmed GMO salmon lack many of those health benefits. Genetically modified AquaAdvantage salmon contain less protein, less healthy fats, fewer vitamins, nutrients and healthy acids per ounce than wild-caught salmon.

How have Alaskan salmon been genetically modified?

Genetically modified (GM) salmon were patented by Canadian scientists who took a gene that regulates growth hormones in Pacific Chinook salmon and a promoter—the equivalent of a genetic ‘on-off’ switch—from an ocean pout and introduced them into the genetic structure of an Atlantic salmon.