Genøk takes an active role in a new project led by NTNU and that is funded by the Research Council of Norway. The aim of the project is to clarify the conditions for social and moral acceptance by using gene-editing on salmon.

Gene-editing, such as CRISPR, can solve some of the challenges in aquaculture, thus increasing value creation through rapid and precise changes in relevant genes in salmon. However, in order for the solutions to be exploited, they must be introduced in socially and morally acceptable ways. This will be explored by looking at perceptions of the moral value of salmon and the interaction between people and salmon, as expressed in public documents, media and research. Stakeholders will be involved as researchers and representatives from the aquaculture industry as well as from wild salmon interests (subsistence and recreational fishing), consumers and NGOs.  The project will use an empirical ethics approach that combines descriptive and normative methods, and aims to contribute with important knowledge to the aquaculture industry, to research using gene-editing on animals and for regulatory purposes. In addition, it will be relevant to the academic discussions about empirical ethics and animal ethics.

Photo: Alexander Raths/dollarphotoclub.com