Pacific Spirit Marine Institute

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Is the common sense of a fifth grader what we are lacking?

Has the time come to ask our elected officials “are you smarter than a fifth grader” finally arrived?

It may be obvious to a fifth grader that eating genetically altered fish is probably a bad idea. The introduction of non-native species of fish into local habitat might sound like a bad idea too. It also seems that trying to keep fish contained in open water might be an expensive and dangerous folly.

Florida has taken steps to protect its coastal waters against the damaging consequences of accidental introduction of non-native, and genetically altered fish from Aquaculture.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services last week finalized some strict rules governing non-native, genetically altered and open water aquaculture. Florida has already felt the sting of non-native fish escaped from aqua farms in the past. Now well-established, non-native species such as the spotted talapia, some types of catfish and the oscare are only a few species that have established themselves in the coastal waters of Florida.

Farming non-native and genetically engineered fish in the open waters of our oceans should never be allowed. Regardless of what type of pens or nets the aqua farmers install, there is no foolproof way of containing fish. Some of these fish will always escape. Non-native fish will forever alter the Eco-systems and damage natural, local fish populations.

Lack of common sense is running ramped regarding aquaculture in open waters across the globe. Hazards to the Eco-systems of the oceans are well documented, but little is known of the future potential hazards of consuming genetically altered fish by humans.

As the population of the earth burgeons, feeding that population becomes a huge challenge. However large that challenge, there is no reason for common sense to evacuate the planet.

If you have, or know someone with a fifth grader at home ask him or her their opinion on this subject. We just may find out the only thing smarter than a fifth grader is another fifth grader.

*photo:www.olemiss.edu

Labels: Are you smarter than a fifth grader, aquaculture, genetically altered fish, open water aquaculture