Pet Fish that Glow in the Dark Confiscated

By Maria A. Schulz

On July 25, authorities in Singapore confiscated over 400 genetically-altered, glow-in-the-dark aquarium fish. The fish were implanted with fluorescence genes from light-emitting jellyfish by Taikong Corp, a Taiwan manufacturer and distributor of aquarium products.

Spokesman Goh Shi-Yong said that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) feared the tiny green, glowing ricefish could get into the wild and wreak havoc on Singapore’s ecosystem.

Goh said genetically modified organisms must get import approval from the authorities and no transgenic animals had yet been approved. Adec Trading and Services, the local aquarium supply company that had the fish, told investigators they came from a Malaysian wholesaler. Adec’s director Gan Li Lian said the company had been planning to import up to 1,000 fish from Taipei-based pet store chain Taikong Corporation, if they were approved for sale.

Taikong says there is no danger of the fish reproducing in the wild because those sold commercially have been rendered sterile.

Although the fish, called TK-1, are already being sold in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia, many developed countries ban GM products, particularly animals. No transgenic animals have been approved for sale in countries such as the United States.

Officials from the AVA have been conducting checks on aquariums and wholesalers throughout Singapore to make sure that none of them has the TK-1 fish.

Anyone who imports GM organisms into Singapore or possesses them without prior consent from the AVA can be fined up to $10,000 and jailed for a year.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.