BIOTECHNOLOGY, AQUACULTURE AND ECOLOGY

Biotechnology applied to produce genetically altered fish stocks in aq uaculture has proved to be a productivity-increasing technology. Chrom osome set manipulations and monosex production have already had a sign ificant impact on trout production. Transgenic fish appear to be ready for full-scale commercial testing in the near future. This developmen t introduces ecological and public policy uncertainties. Fish under cu ltivation are still relatively wild animals. Stocked or escaped transg enic fish may have a severe effect on wild populations. In addition to national legislation protection of wild populations from genetically altered fish has to be achieved by effective physical and biological c ontrol.