Genetically engineered crops, we know of, but what of a genetically engineered salmon? The heading to an item in Seafood International for March reads: "Quarter-tonne salmon in NZ". No question mark after it. The text tells us that New Zealand scientists growing genetically engineered salmon say they have produced fish with the capacity to grow to 250kg. Already they have successfully bred genetically engineered or Pacific king salmon with an altered growth hormone causing them to grow five times faster than the conventional fish and between four and six times as big. Paul Steere "head of Blenheim-based New Zealand King Salmon" said chinook salmon, the largest of the species, already grow to weigh more than 50kg or 1.5 metres long, in the wild. They "can actually grow to the size of husky dogs", he said, "but we now have fish with the potential to reach five or six times that size". The fish were killed before they grew too large, as they were not a necessary part of research. Mr Steere said the main aim was to use the salmon's own growth hormone to increase the commercial potential of the fish. There are now 500 mature genetically altered fish at the research station. Some earlier fish, Mr Steere conceded, had "variability problems" - lumps on the head. The latest third-generation fish were "normal looking but significantly larger". (You would hope that no one wants to engage in a trade of genetically engineered pussycats. Imagine having a thing the size of a tiger on the mat before your fire. Or trying to snuggle down at the foot of your bed. And what would you feed to it?)
To be serious again, the above cutting came from Arthur Reynolds, a great advocate of fish farming. In a covering letter Arthur tells us that Norway, early into fish farming, "is boasting these days that its 1999 fresh salmon exports (almost entirely farmed) totalled the equivalent of £578 million punts. Frozen salmon exports brought in another £106 million. It all adds up to £684 million punts. And, writes Arthur, no North Atlantic maritime national can ignore such potential.
You never know where the next postcard or letter from Arthur will originate. Recently he sent one from Vienna, and Austria has been much in the news recently, in which he wrote: "For museums and art galleries and restaurants and unfamiliar beers, best city I've been in." Never mind the waltzing. Y