Incorporating risk assessment and risk management into public policies on genetically modified finfish and shellfish

Genetically modified finfish and shellfish pose economic benefits to aquaculture, but also pose ecological and genetic risks to ecosystems receiving such organisms. Realization of benefits with minimization of risks posed by a new technology can be addressed through the processes of risk assessment and risk management. Public policies adopted by individual countries will reflect differences in the outcome of risk assessment and risk management processes resulting from differences among the receiving ecosystems and sets of human values at issue. A number of countries and international institutions have begun development of policies for oversight of genetically modified aquatic organisms. In the United States, a working group commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture incorporated risk assessment and risk management principles into draft performance standards for safely conducting research with genetically modified finfish and shellfish. The performance standards address research with a broad range of aquatic GMOs, and compliance is intended to be voluntary. In contrast, the Canadian policy mandates adherence to specified guidelines for experiments with transgenic aquatic organisms; establishment as national policy is expected soon. Based upon the recently-adopted Gene Technology Act, Norwegian policy does not preclude use of genetically engineered aquatic organisms in the aquaculture industry, but the Norwegian government seems unlikely to support such use. Policies on aquatic GMOs have been adopted by leading international institutions concerned with fisheries management or aquaculture. The philosophy and technical content of oversight policies have important implications for scientists involved in research with aquatic GMOs.