Introduction
Filling data gaps
AqGR provisions in proposed Aquaculture Act
No patents on fish or genes
Restricting drug product approvals and genetic engineering in the field of aquatic organism genetics
Introduction
Because large scale industrial aquaculture is relatively new, there's an opportunity to avoid the problems that have plagued plants and animals. However, the approach needs to be consistent with Goal 5, Sustainable Food, Goal 5, Sustainable Fisheries Management, and Goal 4 Veterinary product approvals.
Filling data gaps
Filling data gaps in the FAO aquaculture data collection system are significant and this hinders the development of an international system. A wide range of information needs for a coherent approach have been identified by FAO (2019) including taxonomy, genetic characteristics and abundance. Hybrid species and farmed strains are under reported, in part because of inconsistent nomenclature., though most of the gaps are from Asia, not NA. Members of FAO are advised to utilize and align with the Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Information System (ASFIS) nomenclature for collecting national fisheries and aquaculture statistics both in the case of their own use and when reporting to FAO. The second important international classification system is the International Standard Statistical Classification of Aquatic Animals and Plants (ISSCAAP).
In the absence of coherent international data collection, opportunities for information and genetic resource sharing are constrained, exchanges that have benefited genetic conservation of plants and animals. Once a coherent data gathering approach is established, an international agreement on aquatic genetic resources is more feasible (see Substitution).
AqGR provisions in proposed Aquaculture Act
An Aquaculture Act for Canada has been proposed and FOC has set out the broad parameters of such an act. Under a proposed Environmental Protection section is the option of sustainability standards, or recognizing existing ones, but there is no indication that protecting AqGR would be part of this. Given that most aquaculture breeding is organized by the private sector, the Act and its regulations should set the conditions for breeding that is consistent with an ecological approach to aquaculture. Ecological aquaculture has a long history of selective and cross breeding to create hybrids, so regulatory guidance should focus on those approaches. Given different production systems and feeding regimes, the characteristics required of farmed fish will differ from the current model, including combinations of land and water body production and different feeding regimes. Sustainable aquaculture protocols provide some direction as well. For example, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) salmon standard permits selective breeding for genetic enhancement, but not transgenic salmon. The bivalve standard has rules around hatchery operations to limit genetic erosion and reduced fitness.
Similarly, the act should provide regulatory direction on selection of other aquatic organisms as part of the supply chain for aquaculture. For example, a "designer" algae has been developed to hasten larval production in mussels, and may also have applications to other aquaculture production (Fishfarmingexpert, 2021). The selection of certain species for certain characteristics can again result in genetic erosion if not well managed, and we cannot rely on the private sector to manage it.
No patents on fish or genes
As with embryos, semen and animals (see Efficiency), there should be no patenting of fish genes. "The properties of technologies are often not well understood, particularly for new generation molecular approaches" (FAO 2019). There do not appear to be patents on any fish or fish genes currently. For the approved GE salmon (see Goal 4 Genetic Engineering), research conducted on antifreeze (promoter) proteins in ocean pout by two Canadian scientists was US patented. The patent is thought to have many potential applications beyond aquaculture. In this development, genes from ocean pout are inserted into the Atlantic salmon eggs (Altantic salmon do not have anti-freeze proteins), along with growth hormone from Chinook salmon. As a US patent, it is not legally recognized in Canada and there is no patent on the fish or fish eggs themselves.
Restricting drug product approvals and genetic engineering in the field of aquatic organism genetics
Many product approvals for animals are contributing to the intensification of production and the focus on high performance genetics. Similarly, most genetic engineering interventions are designed to enhance a narrow range of performance traits. For proposals on how to reduce their negative impacts, see Goal 4 Genetic Engineering. All pesticides and veterinary drugs for aquaculture also require pre-market authorization by Health Canada, either through its Pest Management Regulatory Agency or Veterinary Drugs Directorate.There have already been a number of approvals for fish comparable to the situation in animal production, but the review process should account for the impacts of high performance pesticide and drug aids on AqGR (see Goal 4).
