As they splash around in their tanks, they look like any other healthy Atlantic salmon. Their eyes are bright, their skin is gloriously silvery and their fully grown bodies exude power. It’s only when you look closely at their hatching dates that the alarm bells start to ring. A normal Atlantic salmon takes 30 months to grow to maturity . . . this variety took just 16. The majestic specimens are ‘frankenfish’ — genetically modified salmon created in a secretive research base in the Panama rainforest. 'Frankenfish' are genetically modified salmon created by company AquaBounty which grow at twice the rate of wild Atlantic Salmon, and are constantly hungry (file picture)
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GM salmon which grow twice as fast as wild fish have been developed
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Eggs given go-ahead in Canada while meat to be approved for sale in US
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If they escape from farms they could breed and wipe out wild fish
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Imported canned products could be in the UK within years
With growth hormone coursing through their bodies, the @placeholder salmon can reach market size of around 13lb in 16 to 18 months, making them cheaper to produce.