Canada sued over approval of genetically modified salmon scheme

US firm's plan to produce GM salmon eggs in Canada and ship them to Panama threatens contamination of wild fish in a 'huge live experiment', lawsuit argues

Environmental groups are taking the Canadian government to court in an attempt to halt the production of genetically modified salmon eggs, claiming that the process risks a "huge live experiment" with the genetic makeup of all wild Atlantic salmon.

A US firm has been granted permission to produce fertile salmon eggs in Canada and ship them to Panama, where they will be grown in the hope that the fish will be given approval for human consumption in the US and Canada.