HALIFAX—Environmental groups say they are considering appealing a court ruling that quashed their bid to overturn federal approval of the production of genetically modified salmon eggs in Prince Edward Island.
Mark Butler of the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax said Wednesday they are reviewing the Federal Court ruling and will decide next month whether to challenge it.
The group, along with Living Oceans Society, argued in court that the federal government did not follow its own legislated rules and conduct a full risk assessment before clearing AquaBounty to produce the eggs on the Island.
However, Judge Russel W. Zinn dismissed the claims and found the federal ministers’ decisions “were reasonable” and followed the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
Zinn did agree with the environmental groups that AquaBounty was restricted in using the salmon eggs only at the facility in Souris, P.E.I.
“We see that as a partial victory,” Butler said in Halifax.
AquaBounty CEO Ron Stotish said in a statement that the court ruling supports the company’s claim that the eggs do not pose any risk to the environment or human health.
