UNDATED, – Almost 30,000 comments have poured into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about Canadian genetically modified salmon since the agency announced assessments found the altered fish pose no significant environmental impact.

The response has been so strong in the past two months that the agency was asked to extend the public comment period for another 60 days.

The U.S. agency announced today that comments will remain open until April 26.

Developed at Memorial University in Newfoundland and the University of Toronto, the modified eggs are produced at AquaBounty Farms in Prince Edward Island and the fish are reared in Panama.

The Atlantic salmon egg is modified with genes from chinook salmon and an eel-like fish called the ocean pout, which makes the fish grow twice as fast as conventional fish, cutting in half the time it takes to reach market size.

While genetically modified plant crops are now common in the grocery store, the salmon produced would be the first transgenic animal to appear on a dinner plate if it is approved.