[env-trinity] Fw: Gov signs Chesbro bill to protect fisheries from genetically modified ‘frankenfish’

[Tom Stokely]

On Tuesday, September 30, 2014 3:28 PM, "Weseloh, Tom" <Tom.Weseloh at asm.ca.gov> wrote:






 
Please see below for a press release from Assemblyman Chesbro and a related article from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
 
 
 
 
Second Assembly District
Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro
Chair, Assembly Natural Resources Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2014
Contact:  Andrew Bird, Communications Director, (916) 319-2002
Gov signs Chesbro bill to protect fisheries from genetically modified ‘frankenfish’ 
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) that protects California’s native salmon and steelhead by banning the commercial production of genetically altered, or “transgenic,” non-native salmon. 
“I thank Governor Brown for understanding the importance of protecting California wild salmon and steelhead from the threat of transgenic modification,” Chesbro said. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing an application by a company that seeks to produce a farmed salmon in the United States that has been genetically altered to grow faster than native salmon. If these ‘frankenfish’ were to escape into our waters, they could destroy our native salmonid populations through interbreeding, competition for food and the introduction of parasites and disease. The only way to ensure this never happens is to ban commercial hatchery production, cultivation or stocking of transgenic salmonids in California.”
Specifically, AB 504:
	* Codifies the regulatory definition of “transgenic.”
	* Extends the prohibition of spawning, incubation, or cultivation of transgenic salmonids in the Pacific Ocean to all waters of the state. The hatchery production and stocking of transgenic salmonids would be expressly prohibited. 
	* Prohibits research or experimentation for the commercial production of transgenic salmonids.
	* Authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to issue a specified permit for medical or scientific research conducted on transgenic finfish species by accredited California academic institutions or private entities for research only and not for commercial production. DFW is required to notify the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture and the California Fish and Game Commission upon receipt of a specified permit application at least 30 days prior to the approval or disapproval of the permit.
	* Requires that any research activities be conducted in a closed system that has eliminated the risk of escape of transgenic fish species and any potential disease they may transmit. It also requires a permit application to include a research plan specifying the objectives and goals of the proposed research.
AB 504 also contains language extending the current law regulating sea cucumber fishing permits, which was due to expire in 2015, to 2020.
“As chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture since 2010, every year I have authored an ‘omnibus’ bill to protect California fisheries and enhance commercial and sport fishing in the state,” Chesbro said. “The idea for this year’s bill – to protect our irreplaceable salmon and steelhead fisheries – came out of the annual Fisheries Forum that the Joint Committee hosted at the Capitol earlier this year. Over the past four decades, this Forum has produced a number of pieces of legislation that have proven to be vital to California’s fisheries. I hosted my last forum in April and this will be my last fisheries bill. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with fishermen and women, organizations dedicated to protecting the state’s fisheries and Native American tribes in the effort to restore and protect this important California resource.”
AB 504 was sponsored by Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations and supported by California Aquaculture Association, CalTrout, Golden Gate Salmon Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northcoast Environmental Center, Ocean Conservancy, Sierra Club California and the Southern California Trawlers Association.
 
-30-
 
Governor signs bill banning commercial production of genetically modified salmon 
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2901588-181/governor-signs-bill-banning-commercial
BY DEREK MOORE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
September 29, 2014, 5:35PM 
 
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a North Coast lawmaker’s bill banning the commercial production of genetically altered salmon. 
 
AB 504, authored by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, extends the prohibition of spawning or cultivating so-called “transgenic salmonids” in the Pacific Ocean to all waters of the state. The hatchery production and stocking of such fish also is prohibited. 
 
The legislation protects the state’s native steelhead trout and salmon populations, Chesbro said. He noted that federal food and drug regulators are reviewing an application by a company, AquaBounty Technologies, that seeks to raise genetically altered salmon in the United States. 
 
“If these ‘frankenfish’ were to escape into our waters, they could destroy our native salmonid populations through interbreeding, competition for food and the introduction of parasites and disease,” Chesbro stated in a news release. “The only way to ensure this never happens is to ban commercial hatchery production, cultivation or stocking of transgenic salmonids in California.” 
 
The legislation prohibits research or experimentation for the commercial production of genetically-altered salmonids. 
 
The bill was sponsored by the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations.
 
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