Rep. Kim Seung-nam: 67% of Jeju Sea Bullet Sea Cucumbers Test Positive for GMO Genes... Cause of Occurrence Must Be Identified

Detection Frequency of GMO Genes in the East Sea, South Sea, and Jeju Sea Increases Up to Twice
Continuous Monitoring of GMO Genes in Marine Organisms Is Necessary

[Boseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Kim Seung-nam, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Jeonnam Goheung·Boseong·Jangheung·Gangjin), announced on the 7th that an analysis of data received from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries revealed serious GMO contamination in coastal marine organisms in South Korea.

According to the "Monitoring Study on the Detection Frequency of GM Crop Genes in the Marine and Fisheries Ecosystem" conducted by the National Marine Biodiversity Institute over the past two years, the detection frequency of GM crop genes in marine organisms from Jeju (Turritella bacillum, Turritella bacillum var. brevispira) increased by more than twice compared to 2019.

The East Sea and South Sea also saw a sharp increase in the detection frequency of GM genes last year compared to 2019.

In contrast, the West Sea showed a decrease.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated that the reason GMO genes were detected in marine organisms is presumed to be contamination of the sea by genetically modified (GM) crop-based livestock and aquaculture feed, but the exact pathway has not been accurately identified.

Rep. Kim Seung-nam said, "Although the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries believes that the GMO genes detected in benthic shellfish are in fragmented form rather than intact, and thus unlikely to affect the marine ecosystem, the fact that the detection frequency increased up to twice within a year is clearly problematic," adding, "Continuous monitoring of GMO genes in marine organisms must be pursued to clearly identify the source of occurrence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.