Tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 15) at 10:30 a.m. the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard is holding a hearing to examine potential environmental risks of genetically engineered (GE) fish. 

The hearing will examine questions about environmental safety issues surrounding genetically engineered fish, focusing on possible risks to wild fish stocks, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems should these fish escape into wild habitats, according to the committee. 

In their testimony, witnesses will address possible environmental impacts from the escapement of AquAdvantage salmon or other GE fish; the information required for conducting a scientifically rigorous environmental risk assessment of GE fish; and what improvements can be made to the federal government’s current review and compliance processes to minimize any environmental risks.

The hearing will be webcast live via the Senate Commerce Committee website.  Refresh the Commerce Committee homepage 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to automatically begin streaming the webcast.

Witnesses scheduled to testify:

– Dr. Ron Stotish, 
president and CEO 
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
– Dr. John Epifanio, 
Illinois Natural History Survey
– Paul Greenberg, 
journalist and author
– Dr. George Leonard, 
Aquaculture Program Director 
Ocean Conservancy