The National Board of Fisheries is the authority responsible in Sweden for the contained use, deliberate release and placing on the market of genetically modified aquatic organisms or of products made from them (Swedish ordinance FIFS 2004:2).In the case of contained use a permit must be obtained for operation of the necessary facilities and notification given of any likely or ensuing products. The ordinance also contains regulations concerning research and other activities.
At present no research is going on in Sweden in regard to the genetic modification of aquatic
organisms. Most of the research in the field of fish biotechnology is taking place in the US,
Canada, Japan, UK and China. In the case of fish genetic engineering focus is mainly on growth enhancement as well as improved cold tolerance and disease-resistant fish strains. Research concerning the possible use of transgenic fish in the drug industry is also being carried out, such as for the production of insulin and also in bio-monitoring.
Compared with terrestrial animals, there is a greater risk of gene flow from transgene escapees to wild relatives. Salmon from aquaculture are for instance is able to crossbreed with wild stocks of the species and also to hybridise with relatives such as brown trout.
Among the ecological effects of transgenes are competion for spawning ground and for prey. Fish have in general a high reproductive capacity and their offspring may disperse over wide areas.
