Philippine fish farmers want GM stocks
Commercial fish farmers in the Philippines urged the Government to allow importation of genetically-modified (GM) tilapia stocks to prevent the reducing local fish population.
Tugumisirize Digo, a fish farmer with Sunfish Farms in Wakiso, said many
foreign companies had GM tilapia from Lake Victoria and were profiting from the
trade.
“The Philippines are benefiting from tilapia got from Uganda, yet
our government is making it difficult for us to access these technologies,” Digo
said.
The Philippines have branded the GM tilapia as gift fish. It grows
faster, is bigger in size and contains more protein. Digo discarded fears that
GM fish may undermine the market for our fish in the EU.
