amna: The second of a two-part
look at Everett's to create more
sustainable fishing through what
is known as -- two-part look at
efforts to create more
sustainable fishing through what
is known as --.
Reporter: If you build it, they
will swim shared smack dab in
the middle of a cornfield in
Albany, Indiana sits an
impressive display of nature
meeting human ingenuity.
The crops are a long way from
home.
>> Bio security is critical.
We have to protect the fish from
anything that could harm them
like virus.
Reporter: That is Sylvia wolf.
She is president and CEO of aqua
bounty.
A company focused on fish
farming minus the ocean.
It seems an unusual place to see
thousands of salmon.
>> This is the future.
Reporter: It is a completely
enclosed fish farm produces 1200
metric tons of salmon every
year.
>> We want to make sure we are
creating an affordable and
healthy protein alternative so
more people can choose it.
Reporter: This is salmon for the
masses.
She walked me through the stages
of growth.
>> These guys are 3-4 months
old.
They swim, eat, and poop.
These guys have reached their
harvest rate.
They will be shipped to market.
We will harvest them.
They have been at the farm for
roughly 19 fish months.
Reporter: That is 6-8 months
less than atlantic salmon.
These fish are genetically
engineered.
30 years ago scientists spliced
in a growth hormone gene.
They also added a so-called
promoter gene from ocean fish
that turns the growth gene on.
>> They eat and eat so they grow
faster.
The other thing is they are
incredibly efficient in the way
they process their feed into
body mass.
We actually can feed our fish
less to get the accelerated
growth rate.
Reporter: In 2015, aqua bounty
salmon became the first
genetically modified animal
approved for human consumption
by the fda.
The government is requiring that
it be labeled bioengineered.
They are concerned eating the
fish might cause unforeseen
consequences to human health.
Alaska senator Lisa murkowski is
a strong credit.
>> We call this combination
franken-fish because it is not
right.
It is just not right and it
disturbs me quite honestly.
Reporter: The fda has required
that the salmon be raised in a
secure, land-based facilities.
Opponents are concerned they
might harm wild fisheries.
Indigenous fissures in Alaska
are among activists calling for
a bout -- calling for a boycott.
>> This nation opposes
genetically engineered salmon
because we believe very strongly
that the salmon were gifted to
our ancestors from the creator.
When the creator designed
salmon, it was perfect and for
man to think that they can
somehow modify it and make it
better is very arrogant.
Reporter: The boycott campaign
have work -- has worked.
Many are vowing not to sell aqua
bounty salmon.
Only two distributors have
signed on so far.
>> The opposition is pretty
loud.
It is what we call a vocal
minority.
What it does is create an
uncertainty in the mind of the
consumer but they are willing to
listen.
Reporter: Aqua bounty is
expanding despite the pushback.
In April the company broke down
on a full-scale production
facility in pioneer, Ohio able
to produce 10,000 metric tons of
fish.
The company is seeking a state
permit to draw 5 million gallons
a day for the aqua pool.
A group of about a dozen
protesters were making
themselves heard today sparking
opposition and a lot of local
media coverage.
Sylvia wolf says aqua bounty has
installed an elaborate water
filtration and treatment system.
She says the company releases
only treated and clean water
back into rivers and creeks.
To the extent that water comes
out of this facility, is a
pretty clean?
>> We have our own wastewater
treatment facility in the back
of the farm.
We are putting the discharge
through the treatment to make
sure that as we discharge it, we
have settling ponds which
continue to remove any --
anything we would not want
discharged into the river or
creek.
We are monitored closely by
Indiana EPA and the federal EPA.
Reporter: Landlocked fish
farming is energy intensive and
expensive.
Paul Greenberg has spent much of
his career focused on the
fishing industry.
>> Very high energy costs to
keep water at a constant
temperature and circulating.
These things that nature does on
its own.
In a tank based situation you
have to pay for that.
Reporter: Demand for seafood is
rising and 70% of the fish we
eat in the U.S. Is imported.
Compared to fish flown in from
Norway, Scotland, or Chile, the
cost of salmon raised on land
could be on par.
The competition could be on
taste.
Wow, they gave us the whole
My partner Susie cooked it out.
This looks like regular salmon?
>> Yes, it looks like any
atlantic salmon I would cook.
Reporter: It passed the test.
The consistency is good.
It smells great.
It is delicious.
Seafood without the sea.
It might be one way to help feed
the planet but it comes with a
side of controversy and concern.
It is definitely not a free
The pbs newshour, miles o'brien
and Al, Indiana.
♪♪ -- In Albany, Indiana.
♪♪