U.S. biotechnology firm A/F Protein says that its genetically modified salmon are needed to feed the world's growing population. But the facts show that this is just public relations hype. (``Give bio-fish a chance,'' April  4.)

To begin with, salmon are carnivores, so they actually deplete the amount of edible seafood in the world. It takes three to five pounds of fish meal and oil to create one pound of farmed salmon. In other words, we are feeding protein to our protein. Because Canada does not allow edible fish (like sardines, herring or mackerel) to be fed to farmed fish, much of our fish meal comes from the wild fish of developing nations -- the very nations that A/F Protein proposes to feed.

Why are biotech companies like A/F Protein positioning themselves as corporate relief agencies? Oxfam Canada, an organization with decades of experience dealing with hunger, says: ``There is no techno-fix to world hunger. The problem is equity: Not a lack of food, but who gets to eat. Biotech cannot address this.''

The Royal Society of Canada has called for a moratorium on the rearing of GM fish in ocean pens. Fish experts at the American Society of Ichthyologists have also asked for a moratorium. Even fish farmer associations have publicly stated that they do not want GM fish. Biotech companies like A/F Protein are attempting to harness the tragedy of others for the benefit of their business. Famine should not be a marketing strategy.

Michael Khoo
Greenpeace
Toronto