GloFish® in California
You may be wondering why GloFish® fluorescent fish are allowed everywhere in the United States except California.
As many people know, our fish received a positive recommendation from the California Department of Fish and Game in November 2003, and the California Fish & Game Commission voted to move forward with the process of exempting our fish from their ban on biotech aquatic organisms in April 2004. However, we were subsequently advised by Commission attorneys that state law in California would require the completion of a formal ecological review to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act before the Commission could move forward with the approval process. Unfortunately, this review would be extremely expensive, involve procedural uncertainty, and likely take several years to complete.
Due to the excessive cost and time involved in that process, as well as the uncertainty, we have decided not to engage the review. We regret this situation, but unfortunately cannot afford, at this time, to make the enormous investment necessary to perhaps be able to market our fish in California.
If you would like to contact the Commission to make your voice heard regarding this issue, please visit their website at http://www.fgc.ca.gov/contact/contact.asp, or contact them directly by phone at (916) 653-4899, by fax at (916) 653-5040, or by email at fgc@fgc.ca.gov.