October 26, 2021

GM salmon produced in Prince Edward Island, Canada, now available for sale

Genetically modified salmon produced in Prince Edward Island, Canada, is "available for sale" in the country, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, but when and where consumers can purchase the food remains unclear.

The agency's Marie Terrien confirmed in an email this month that the fish, produced by US-owned AquaBounty, can be sold in Canada, adding that it was up to the company to say whether its products were on supermarket fish counters or in restaurants.

Salmon from AquaBounty's facilities in Prince Edward Island would be the first genetically modified salmon produced in Canada to be available for sale in the country.

"Following a multi-year assessment by Health Canada, AquAdvantage salmon, a genetically engineered Atlantic salmon developed by AquaBounty, is now available for sale in Canada," wrote Terrien.

In an email, AquaBounty declined a request for an interview about the status of salmon raised at its indoor facility in Rollo Bay, Prince Edward Island, saying its chief executive is unavailable "for the next few weeks due to meetings and travel schedule."

According to a report to AquaBounty investors in May, the first batch of Prince Edward Island-grown salmon was to be available by the end of June. However, a September investors report shifted the predicted harvest of the first Rollo Bay salmon to between July 1 and the end of this year.

- CBC