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F.I.S.S.T.A. www.fissta.com
MR. NOEL CARR HON SECRETARY,
FISSTA – FEDERATION OF IRISH SALMON & SEATROUT ANGLERS
Teelin Rd, Carrick Co Donegal. Tel/Fax: 074 9730300 Email: dgl1@indigo.ie
DONEGAL – THURSDAY 31st DECEMBER 2015 PRESS RELEASE FROM FISSTA
FISSTA ANGLERS LOOK FORWARD TO 2016 SALMON SEASON WITH NEW HOPE
FISSTA NOW LOOKS FORWARD TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR WILD ATLANTIC SALMON FOLLOWING THE PRE CHRISTMAS STATE BIM ANNOUNCEMENT TO WITHDRAW THE FIRST OF TEN MEGA FARM APPLICATION FOR GALWAY BAY.
TOMORROW OUR NEW ANGLING SEASON OPENS ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY AND WHILE WE WISH WELL ALL THE ANGLERS WHO SEEK THE PRIZE FOR THE FIRST SALMON OF 2016, MOST OF US WILL STAY WARM AND DRY AND WAIT FOR MORE SUITABLE CONDITIONS TO WET A LINE LATER IN THE YEAR. MANY ANGLERS WILL FEAR FOR THE NEW APPLICATIONS THAT ARE NOW BEING REDRAFTED BY THE SALMON FARMING INDUSTRY AT PRESENT TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW EU GRANT AID CONDITIONS BEING OFFERED.
FISSTA CHAIRMAN PAUL LAWTON SAID “FISSTA WILL BE THE FIRST AGAIN TO OBJECT LEGALLY AS WE WERE THE FIRST TO MOBILISE AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PLAN WHICH WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER SIMON COVENEY TD IN 2011. WE USED ALL OUR RESOURCES INCLUDING PROTESTS TO FRUSTRATE THE PROCESS FOLLOWING FISSTA’S NOTICE OF LEGAL ACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT WHICH DELAYED THE DECISION AND PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE MINISTER TO REVIEW HIS ILL THOUGHT OUT MEGA FARMS PLAN OF 2011”.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BY BIM NOW ENDS THE LONG WAIT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S RESPONSE TO FISSTA AS THE APPLICATION IS NOW WITHDRAWN SINCE BIM ANNOUNCED IT ON DECEMBER 21st 2015. FISSTA THANKS ALL WHO SUPPORTED OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WHICH SAW THOUSANDS OF ANGLERS AND PROTESTERS OF THE WILD SALMON ON THE STREETS OF GALWAY CITY, CASTLEBAR (TAOISEACH’S OFFCE) AND CARRIGALINE (MINISTERS OFFICE) OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
FISSTA REMIND ALL THAT THE FINE GAEL SALMON FARM POLICY IS STILL IN PLACE DESPITE A LABOUR PARTY POLICY MOTION AT THEIR LAST CONFERENCE TO OPPOSE IT. MINISTER COVENEY HAS IGNORED THE CLEAR POLICY OF HIS COALITION PARTNER AND AWARDED MARINE HARVEST A LICENSE FOR BANTRY BAY LAST OCTOBER THIS PROVES BEYOND DOUBT THE INTENTIONS OF FINE GAEL WHO CAN IGNORE THE WISHES OF THEIR POLITICAL PARTNERS AND THOUSANDS OF ANGLERS WHO DEMANDED JUSTICE FOR OUR MARINE ENVIRONMENT.
FISSTA HAVE CURRENTLY AN OBJECTION LODGED TO ALAB AND HOPE WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL BY GETING THIS BANRTY BAY LICENSE APPLICATION REJECTED AS WELL. FISSTA NOW CALL ON THE MINISTER TO FURTHER REVIEW SUCH DAMAGING POLLUTING CAGES AND BRING THEM ONSHORE TO BE MANAGED UNDER THE CURRENT MORE STRINGENT EU WASTE MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVES.
WHILE NO WAR HAS BEEN WON AS YET FISSTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FIRST OF MANY BATTLES HAS ENDED AS WE FACE 2016 WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE IMPENDING DISASTER OF WHAT 15,000 TONS OF FARMED SALMON WOULD BRING TO OUR PRISITNE GALWAY WATERS AND WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT OUR WILD FISH RESOURCES ON THE WEST COAST.
FISSTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE MASS SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE IRISH ANGLING FEDERATONS AND OUR 250,000 SPORTS COALITION AND NARGC WHO STOOD WITH US AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME AND WAS A MAJOR ELECTORAL FACTOR IN THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE APPLICATION. ENDS.
DONEGAL – MONDAY 21st DECEMBER 2015 PRESS RELEASE FROM FISSTA
SANTA COMES EARLY TO SAVE GALWAY BAY AND THE WILD SALMON
FISSTA CHAIRMAN PAUL LAWTON WELCOMED TODAY’S BIM ANNOUNCEMENT TO WITHDRAW THEIR INIS OIR/GALWAY BAY APPLICATION FOR THE FIRST OF TEN MEGA SALMON FARMS ALONG THE WEST COAST OF IRELAND.
“FISSTA WERE THE FIRST TO MOBILISE AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PLAN WHICH WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER SIMON COVENEY TD IN 2011. THE PROCESS FOR AWARDING THE LICENSE WAS FURTHER OBSTURCTED FOLLOWING FISSTA’S NOTICE OF LEGAL ACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDING COVENEY’S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND MARINE LAST MAY WHICH DELAYED THE DECISION AND PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE MINISTER TO REVIEW HIS ILL THOUGHT OUT MEGA FARMS PLAN OF 2011” SAID MR. LAWTON.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BY BIM NOW ENDS THE LONG WAIT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S RESPONSE TO FISSTA AS THE APPLICATION IS NOW WITHDRAWN TODAY.
FISSTA ARE DELIGHTED THAT THE BIM BOARD HAVE DECIIDED TO SCRAP THE TEN MEGA FARMS PLAN FOLLOWING OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WHICH SAW THOUSANDS OF ANGLERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE WILD SALMON ON THE STREETS OF GALWAY CITY, CASTLEBAR (TAOISEACH’S OFFCE) AND CARRIGALINE (MINISTERS OFFICE) OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
FISSTA WILL NOW CONTINUE THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT’S OPEN NET SEA CAGE SALMON FARMING POLCIY WHICH MINISTER COVENEY GRANTED A LICENCSE FOR IN BANTRY BAY OCTOBER AND WHICH WE HAVE CURRENTLY AN OBJECTION LODGED. FISSTA NOW CALL ON THE MINISTER TO FURTHER REVIEW SUCH DAMAGING POLLUTING CAGES AND BRING THEM ONSHORE TO BE MANAGED UNDER THE CURRENT MORE STRINGENT EU WASTE MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVES.
WHILE NO WAR HAS BEEN WON AS YET FISSTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FIRST OF MANY BATTLES HAS ENDED TODAY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW.
FISSTA THANK ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE GALWAY BAY FROM THE IMPENDING DISASTER THAT IS THE BIM APPLICATION FOR 15,000 TONS OF FARMED SALMON THAT WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT OUR WILD FISH RESOURCES ON THE WEST COAST.
FISSTA ESPECIALLY THANKS OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE IRISH SPORTS COALITION AND NARGC WHO STOOD WITH US AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME AND TO ALL OUR ANGLING FEDERATIONS WHO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR SPORT AND STOCKS.
FISSTA WISH ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara Welcomes Ireland’s First Integrated Aquaculture Development Plan
21 December 2015
Agency to Withdraw Application for Organic Salmon Farm in Line with New National Policy
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), today (21st December) welcomed the publication of Ireland’s first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. The strategy drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine follows extensive consultation and forms the basis for the drawdown of €30 million in EU funding dedicated to Irish aquaculture development over the next five years from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Among the twenty-four tailored actions agreed in the Strategy was the setting of scale limits in relation to the development of individual offshore salmon farms, capping their size to between 5,000 and 7,000 tonnes. Based on this significant development and current legislation (Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997) that states an application cannot be altered while in the planning process; BIM confirmed at its Board meeting today, that it will no longer be proceeding with its current application for an aquaculture licence for a proposed 15,000 tonne organic salmon farm in Galway Bay.
Announcing the decision, BIM CEO, Tara McCarthy said “Taking account of the new policy framework, BIM has reviewed its work programme to match our activities against this new Plan. The scaling of fish farms was one element that had to be addressed and we have taken swift and decisive action on that. We must now re-assess our delivery of this project in the context of the new operating environment and examine the operational and commercial impacts. This will take time and a significant amount of engagement and consultation.”
Ms McCarthy added; “It is important to note that €30 million of EU support has been earmarked to support Irish aquaculture over the next five years to deliver on growth targets set out in the Government Food Wise 2025 report. BIM’s focus for the period will be to continue to drive and explore new innovative technologies, lead sustainability programmes and improve profitability for our producers to deliver against considerable market demand”
BIM has informed the licensing authority (the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine) that it is withdrawing the current application.
HERE IS A GREAT RETAIL REACTION TO THE GM SALMON ISSUE IN USA
Sadly, there will be too many using GM salmon to make money despite the damage to the health of their customers. However, here is an article that moves the story on and shows that there are many who will resist this GM salmon product for what it is.
Here are the retailers who won’t sell AquaBounty’s GM salmon
Here are the retailers who won’t sell AquaBounty’s GM salmon
By Madelyn Kearns, SeafoodSource associate editor
Published on Monday, November 23, 2015
Not long after word came down about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to approve the sale of AquaBounty’s genetically modified salmon, reports of public discontent came rolling in.
A New York Times readership poll found that 75 percent of respondents would not eat salmon that had been genetically engineered. According to Friends of the Earth, over 60 grocery store chains operating 9,000 storefronts across the United States have already made vows to not sell GMO or genetically modified products. Safeway, Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Aldi are all among those retailers refusing GMO items.
“Despite FDA’s flawed and irresponsible approval of the first genetically engineered animal for human consumption, it’s clear that there is no place in the U.S. market for genetically engineered salmon”, said Lisa Archer, Food and Technology program director at Friends of the Earth, in a prepared statement. “People don’t want to eat it and grocery stores are refusing to sell it.”
Approximately 1.8 million people have sent letters to the FDA opposing the approval of what many letter-writers referred to as the “frankenfish” (i.e. GM salmon), reported Friends of the Earth. Early rumblings indicate that the FDA may not require GM salmon products to be labeled as such, said the NGO. “However Alaska, a top wild salmon producer, requires labeling of genetically engineered salmon and momentum is growing for GMO labeling in a number of states across the U.S. and at the federal level,” the organization explained.
A growing facet of the scientific community has argued that genetically modified salmon may pose environmental and public health risks, including damage to the wild salmon population, noted Dr. Pete Knutson, owner of Loki Fish Company and Commissioner on the Puget Sound Salmon Commission.
“There were over 250 million wild salmon harvested in Alaska and Puget Sound this year. Why should we put this sustainable resource at risk for the benefit of a few multinational corporations who will, sooner or later, introduce GE salmon into their floating feed lots? Americans will be eating synthetic salmon, thinking they are receiving the nutritional benefits of wild salmon,” said Knutson.
“There’s no place on our dinner plates for genetically engineered fish. We will continue to work to ensure the market, from grocery retailers to restaurants, continues to listen to majority of consumers that don’t want to eat this poorly studied, unlabeled genetically engineered fish,” Archer concluded.
Per Friends of the Earth, at least 35 other types of genetically engineered fish, like that produced by AquaBounty Technologies – AquAdvantage, are under development.
– See more at: http://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/here-are-the-retailers-who-won-t-sell-aquabounty-s-gm-salmon?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=eNewsletter#sthash.kXV8UaX1.dpuf
US clears genetically modified salmon for human consumption
US health regulators have cleared the way for a type of genetically engineered Atlantic salmon to be farmed for human consumption – the first such approval for an animal whose DNA has been scientifically modified.
Five years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first declared the product, made by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies, to be as safe as conventional farm-raised Atlantic salmon.
AquaBounty’s product will not require special labelling because it is nutritionally equivalent to conventional farm-raised Atlantic salmon, the FDA said on Thursday.
AquaBounty developed the salmon by altering its genes so that it would grow faster than farmed salmon.
It expects it will take about two more years for the salmon to reach consumers’ plates as the company works out distribution.
AquaBounty is majority owned by Intrexon Corp, whose shares were up 7.3 percent at $37.55 in afternoon trading.
AquaBounty says its salmon can grow to market size in half the time of conventional salmon, saving time and resources.
The fish is essentially Atlantic salmon, with a Pacific salmon gene for faster growth and a gene from the eel-like ocean pout that promotes year-round growth.
Activist groups have expressed concerns that genetically modified foods may pose risks to the environment and public health.
Several groups on Thursday said they would oppose the sale of engineered salmon to the public, while some retailers said they would not carry the fish on store shelves.
AquaBounty chief executive Ronald Stotish said the approval “brings healthy and nutritious food to consumers in an environmentally responsible manner without damaging the ocean and other marine habitats”.
The approval for the fish, to be sold under the AquAdvantage brand, requires that the salmon be raised only in two designated land-based and contained hatcheries in Canada and Panama, and not in the US.
All of the fish will be female, and reproductively sterile, to prevent inadvertent breeding of the genetically modified fish with wild salmon, FDA officials said.
The agency on Thursday also issued draft guidelines on how food manufacturers could identify whether the salmon in their products are genetically modified.
The guidelines state that such labelling would be voluntary.
Mr Stotish said in an interview that AquaBounty will follow the FDA’s rule for labelling and that currently “there would be no requirement for labelling”.
“Frankly, it’s an area that we don’t have to address today,” he said.
“No credible evidence”
Dr William Muir, a professor of genetics at Purdue University who had urged the government to approve the salmon, said there is “no credible evidence” that these genetically modified fish are a risk to either human health or the environment.
“The current practice of using wild-caught salmon as a food source is not sustainable, our oceans are overfished,” Dr Muir said.
Dr Muir was among 80 scientists and biotech industry executives who in 2014 sent a letter to US president Barack Obama asking for administration support for this approval.
AquaBounty’s salmon was originally developed as a fast-growing variety by a group of Canadian public university scientists more than a quarter of a century ago, and the company has been trying to get regulatory approval for almost two decades, said Dr Alison Van Eenennaam of the University of California, Davis, who served on the 2010 FDA veterinary medicine advisory committee, which looked at the AquaBounty salmon.
She called the FDA’s five-year decision-making process on the fish “unprecedented” and said the approval was “long overdue”.
FDA policy analyst Laura Epstein told reporters that because the approval was the first of its kind, the agency wanted “to get everything right” and to offer many opportunities for public comment.
Joe Perry, former chair of the European Food Safety Authority, said European regulators would require a lot more data than the FDA before giving a similar green light to engineered salmon.
Patty Lovera, assistant director for Food and Water Watch, said the group is talking to members of US congress about rolling back the FDA approval.
The group is also considering a lawsuit to block genetically modified salmon from reaching the market.
Friends of the Earth estimates that at least 35 other species of genetically engineered fish, along with chickens, pigs and cows, are under development.
The FDA’s decision on salmon may set a precedent that could make approval for other genetically modified animal species easier.
FDA officials would not comment on whether it has received any other applications for genetically modified animals.
