Alaska Senators: No "Frankenfish" for American Consumers

Alaska’s two senators, whose constituency includes a big salmon-fishing industry, want to outlaw any genetically modified versions of the fish from landing on America’s dinner plates, the National Journal reports.

Legislation introduced by senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, Democrat and Republican, respectively, would ban the Food and Drug Administration from approving production of what Begich dubs “Frankenfish.”

Mark Begich

Their bill may be swimming upstream. An earlier version expired last year, and even the new version contains back-up language saying if the FDA does let people eat genetically modified salmon, it would have to be labeled as such.

A Massachusetts company is seeking FDA permission to market its new wonder of fish-food science: a salmon that reaches maturity and full size at twice the normal speed. Begich called these super-salmon “an inferior product” that could kill off Alaska fishers’ livelihoods.