Fear of science & change will be weapons for animal industries trying to save their rump roasts CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts––“Do not assume that doing the best science possible will insulate you from criticism,” AquaBounty Technologies chief executive Ronald L. Stotish warned the New Harvest 2018 conference on “cellular agriculture,” toward the end of two days […]
Aussie prof challenges “invasion biologists” on their own turf
Contends “compassionate conservation” is most effective protection of biodiversity SYDNEY, Australia––The conservation establishments of both Australia and Israel might like to designate Arian D. Wallach an “invasive species” and slate her for extirpation. Indeed, Wallach’s arguments could eventually put the entire global industry of exterminating “invasive species” out of business. Like any successful adaptive […]
Washington bans Atlantic salmon sea pens––what’s in it for the fish?
Five-year phase-out of Atlantic salmon farming mandated by law OLYMPIA, Washington––What is in it for the fish? That is a question hardly anyone is asking, or is likely to ask, as Washington state embarks upon a legislatively mandated five-year phase-out of the sea pen-raised Atlantic salmon industry in Puget Sound. The phase-out bill was introduced […]
Shellfishing & oil minions blame sea otters for effects of global warming
Still endangered after century of recovery, sea otters become scapegoats ANCHORAGE, Alaska––Sea otters are now taking the rap from frustrated Alaskan shellfishers for one of the best-documented and longest foreseen effects of global warming: oceanic acidification, inhibiting the ability of species such as abalone, urchins, clams, crabs and sea cucumbers to build and maintain shells. […]
Are sick factory-farmed salmon running amok in Puget Sound?
Wild Fish Conservancy study suggests yes SEATTLE, Washington––Are salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest at risk from a crippling disease spread by estimated 162,000 hatchery-bred Atlantic salmon who on August 20, 2017 made a jailbreak from a ruptured sea pen at Cypress Island in Puget Sound? If so, will further losses to the already overfished wild salmon […]
Naming Nature: The clash between instinct & science
by Carol Kaesuk Yoon W.W. Norton & Co. (500 5th Ave., New York, NY 10110), 2009. 344 pages, hardcover. $27.95. Reviewed by Merritt Clifton Though you may never have heard of either “taxonomy” or “cladistics,” the two central concepts in Carol Kaesuk Yoon’s 2009 opus Naming Nature, it remains a fascinating read for […]
Why did 162,000 factory-farmed salmon make a jailbreak?
Everyone is talking about the salmon, but almost no one about the interests of the fish themselves BELLINGHAM, Washington––Thousands of people around the Salish Sea have been talking about the Great Salmon Escape since August 20, 2017, when an estimated 162,000 hatchery-bred Atlantic salmon made a jailbreak from a ruptured sea pen at Cypress Island in […]
Can former HSUS vice president David Wills raise bail of $5 million?
Wills reportedly raised $42 million-plus for shrimp scheme, but child sex charges may not attract investors CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas––Former Humane Society of the U.S. vice president for investigations and Michigan Humane Society president David Keith Wills, 64, was arraigned on July 20, 2017 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janice B. Ellington on charges of “sex trafficking […]
Hampton Creek founder Tetrick pledges his “clean meat” will be vegan
Cloned product will not be grown in serum culture, Tetrick says SAN FRANCISCO––Hampton Creek Foods founder Josh Tetrick, amid a mysterious destocking of all 20 Hampton Creek products by Target Corporation, the largest Hampton Creek customer, took a meme of unknown origin attacking cell-cultured meat seriously enough to call at 5:02 p.m. on Friday, […]
From nuts to high tech: veggie food emerges as investment trend
Hedge funds bet that the foliage is where our next meals are coming from LAS VEGAS, LONDON––Food industry leaders placing investment bets on what they believe will be the next big trend in eating are putting more and more of the money on alternatives to animal products and byproducts. Three paths away from meat […]