Alaskan U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski are asking the FDA for an extension on the public comment period for the FDA's Environmental Assessment (EA) of so-called "frankenfish".
The fish in question are genetically modified, farm-raised salmon engineered by AquaBounty Technologies. They are designed to reach marketable size considerably faster than natural salmon through manipulation of the fish's genes.
The FDA's assessment resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the fish on the environment or human health.
A sixty day public comment period has been open since December 26, when the EA was published. During this period, the public may submit comment to the FDA's website for consideration before AquaBounty can receive approval for the fish.
Senators Begich and Murkowski, along with senators from Oregon, Washington, and Maryland, sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg on Friday requesting a sixty-day extension on the public comment period.
In the letter, senators expressed disappointment in the FDA's publication of the assessment during the holiday season when many are preoccupied with family matters. Also mentioned was the potential escape of the engineered fish into U.S. waters.
One of Senator Begich's concerns with the introduction of the genetically modified fish into Alaska's food supply is the effect it could have on the fishing industry. "This may turn people off from purchasing fish, because that product is not going to be the high grade product that people are expecting when they go to the market to buy fish," he said Saturday.
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