(NETWORK INDIANA) Bio engineered salmon help feed Hoosier families. They’re not only a food source, but they provide dozens of jobs, says Sen. Todd Young, who sent a letter to Pres. Trump and Vice Pres. Pence, signed by most of Indiana’s Congressional delegation.
The letter asks the administration not to block the production of the salmon, which was developed by AquaBounty Technologies, in Albany. Young said that action would negatively impact the state of Indiana and the future of biotechnology.
“If this provision is enacted, Hoosiers will see an immediate and detrimental impact. Dozens of jobs will be terminated, 160,000 healthy fish will be destroyed, and millions of dollars invested in transportation and infrastructure will be wasted. AquaBounty’s investment has spurred much-needed economic vitality in this rural and underserved region of our state,” said the letter.
“I think that producing here is important because we are going to continue to consume aquaculture… we will continue to consume as much wild catch as we can, but it cannot keep up with the global growth and human population, and the need for that healthy seafood,” said Kathryn Unger, Managing Director of Cargill Aqua Nutrition North America, in a Senate Commerce hearing this week.
In addition to Senator Young, the letter was also signed by Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Representatives Greg Pence (R-IN-06), Larry Bucshon M.D. (R-IN-08), Pete Visclosky (D-IN-01), Susan W. Brooks (R-IN-05), Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02), Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN-09), Jim Banks (R-IN-03), and James R. Baird (R-IN-04).