Although the new bill only addresses labeling and not the production of these fish, the industry opposes it.

Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, originally filed House Bill 2143, which would prohibit the production of genetically modified finfish and would require them to be labeled when sent to supermarket shelves to be purchased as food by consumers.

Condotta has since filed House Bill 2630, which has similar language but one big difference: It doesnt prohibit production of transgenic fish.

Condotta said that because the production of transgenic fish is already banned in Washington's marine waters, including a ban in the bill was unnecessary. But people in Washington support the labeling of transgenic fish, he said, so its an issue that legislators should address.

The simplified bill also will be better for the state's aquaculture industry, because they should be concerned about their products getting mistaken for transgenic products, he said.

After listening to fish farmers criticize his original bill at a Jan. 17 hearing before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee, Condotta had said he was surprised by their opposition.

"We thought that the farmed fishermen would be on our side," he said, considering that several aquaculture companies have said they have no plans to rear transgenic fish in the future.

However, support for the bill was not coming from Troutlodge, an aquaculture company based in Bonney Lake, southeast of Tacoma.

Company representative John Dentler testified at the Jan. 17 hearing that the bill's definition of genetically engineered was too vague. The way it was originally written, he said, the bill could encompass some of his company's most important products as well.

Troutlodge produces triploid trout eggs, which require a form of genetic engineering. These fish eggs have three chromosomes instead of two, making them sterile. The process to do this varies but a common practice is to apply pressure to the eggs and put them in a warm-water bath, which is not a transgenic process.

More here:
Rep. Condotta hopes to appease concerned fisheries with redone GMO bill

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