Fear over GE viruses to control possums

New Zealanders have strong concerns about the safety and control of genetically engineered viruses and other potential biological controls for possums, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Morgan Williams.

In a study on possum control, released yesterday, Dr Williams said the public felt "very differently" about genetic engineering technologies used in containment, such as in a laboratory, than about GE organisms being released into the environment.

"Ethical issues, community values and the perceived trustworthiness of sources of information are as important for acceptability as scientific assessments of benefits and risks," he said.

Because of this, people wanted to have more say about the kind of technologies being developed for controlling possums.

The report follows several warnings from Dr Williams that Government science firms and funding agencies, pouring millions of dollars into seeking biological controls for possums, were risking their investment by not preparing the public for use of such technologies.

A possum biocontrol team at the Crown's Landcare Research Institute has started trials of a protein that turns a female possum's immune system against its reproductive system, making it infertile.

There were questions over whether the organism involved could cross species to humans.

Dr Williams said possums were a big problem for New Zealand, damaging forests and threatening unique wildlife.

But while the study showed that people supported possum control, there had to be better processes for dialogue between researchers, environmental management agencies and society on new controls.

More New Zealanders wanted to be involved in the debate.

The commissioner's report, titled Caught in the Headlights - New Zealanders' Reflections on Possums, Control Options and Genetic Engineering, canvassed attitudes towards possible biocontrols.

The study, carried out against the backdrop of the GE food debate, found strong concern about genetically engineered technologies.

"The public wants to be confident that future possum biocontrols will be safe, humane, effective, and will not have adverse effects on people, other species or the wider environment," Dr Williams said.

"But generating this confidence requires resolving concerns well beyond the science."

He questioned who should finance such studies, who would benefit, and who would carry the risk of such biological controls going wrong.

He also queried the sustainability of current methods of dealing with possums and the lack of a national strategic plan for their control.

There were big implications for Maori values in the natural environment and for iwi interests under the Treaty of Waitangi.

The report recommended that the Government expand research on community views on possum controls and improve channels for community input.

AgResearch, a crown science firm heavily involved in GE experimentation, welcomed the report.

AgResearch possum scientist Doug Eckery said that as its research into possible long-term controls was still at an early stage, it had the opportunity to involve the public on possible biocontrols as they emerged.

- NZPA

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