AquaBounty Technologies, the first company in North America to sell genetically modified salmon for human consumption, has shut down operations amid financial losses and years of opposition from conservation and Indigenous groups.
Edward Carver reports for Mongabay.
In short:
- AquaBounty’s genetically engineered salmon was approved in 2015 but faced market resistance due to consumer concerns and legal challenges.
- The company struggled with lawsuits and opposition, leading major retailers like Walmart and Costco to refuse to sell the fish.
- Conservationists and Indigenous groups celebrated the closure, citing environmental risks and cultural objections to genetically modified salmon.
Key quote:
“This isn’t anything close to what a salmon is, let alone a ‘sustainable’ system.”
— Carl Wassilie, Yupik biologist and Block Corporate Salmon organizer
Why this matters:
AquaBounty’s closure highlights the difficulties of introducing genetically modified animals in food markets amid growing concerns about sustainability, sovereignty and consumer trust. The outcome may deter other companies from pursuing similar innovations.
