Campaigners celebrate as firm making first-ever GMO fish ceases operations

Members of NFFC gather in front of a large white building holding up signs about GE salmon

This story from Mongabay highlights the success of campaigners in shuttering AquaBounty Technologies, the company behind the first genetically engineered salmon approved for human consumption in North America.

The campaign, which Block Corporate Salmon (BCS) coalition played a huge role in, was comprised of various organizations.

Carl Wassilie, a Yupik biologist and organizer with the BCS coalition, and Dana Perls of Friends of the Earth, were among those celebrating the victory. Public rejection, retailer refusals, and years of activism led to AquaBounty’s downfall, which campaigners hope will set a precedent for sustainable food systems and Indigenous sovereignty over natural resources.

Photo credit: Sam Cave. The National Family Farm Coalition protests genetically engineered salmon at an event in Berea, Kentucky in August 2024. Image courtesy of the National Family Farm Coalition.