Gene-associated markers provide tools for tackling illegal fishing and false eco-certification

Einar E. Nielsen (), Alessia Cariani, Eoin Mac Aoidh, Gregory E. Maes, Ilaria Milano, Rob Ogden, Martin Taylor, Jakob Hemmer-Hansen, Massimiliano Babbucci, Luca Bargelloni, Dorte Bekkevold, Eveline Diopere, Leonie Grenfell, Sarah Helyar, Morten T. Limborg, Jann T. Martinsohn, Ross McEwing, Frank Panitz, Tomaso Patarnello, Fausto Tinti, Jeroen K. J. Van Houdt, Filip A. M. Volckaert, Robin S. Waples and Gary R. Carvalho
Additional contact information
Einar E. Nielsen: Section for Population Ecology and Genetics, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Alessia Cariani: University of Bologna
Eoin Mac Aoidh: Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) Joint Research Centre (JRC) European Commission (EC) JRC.G.4 – Maritime Affairs, Via Enrico Fermi 2749 (TP 051), I-21027 Ispra (Va), Italy.
Gregory E. Maes: Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Ilaria Milano: University of Bologna
Rob Ogden: TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Martin Taylor: Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor University
Jakob Hemmer-Hansen: Section for Population Ecology and Genetics, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Massimiliano Babbucci: Comparative Pathology, and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova
Luca Bargelloni: Comparative Pathology, and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova
Dorte Bekkevold: Section for Population Ecology and Genetics, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Eveline Diopere: Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Leonie Grenfell: TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Sarah Helyar: Matís, Icelandic Food and Biotech R&D, Vínlandslei∂´ 12, 113 Reykjavík, Iceland.
Morten T. Limborg: Section for Population Ecology and Genetics, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Jann T. Martinsohn: Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) Joint Research Centre (JRC) European Commission (EC) JRC.G.4 – Maritime Affairs, Via Enrico Fermi 2749 (TP 051), I-21027 Ispra (Va), Italy.
Ross McEwing: TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Frank Panitz: Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Tomaso Patarnello: Comparative Pathology, and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova
Fausto Tinti: University of Bologna
Jeroen K. J. Van Houdt: Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Filip A. M. Volckaert: Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Robin S. Waples: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Gary R. Carvalho: Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor University

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing has had a major role in the overexploitation of global fish populations. In response, international regulations have been imposed and many fisheries have been 'eco-certified' by consumer organizations, but methods for independent control of catch certificates and eco-labels are urgently needed. Here we show that, by using gene-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, individual marine fish can be assigned back to population of origin with unprecedented high levels of precision. By applying high differentiation single nucleotide polymorphism assays, in four commercial marine fish, on a pan-European scale, we find 93–100% of individuals could be correctly assigned to origin in policy-driven case studies. We show how case-targeted single nucleotide polymorphism assays can be created and forensically validated, using a centrally maintained and publicly available database. Our results demonstrate how application of gene-associated markers will likely revolutionize origin assignment and become highly valuable tools for fighting illegal fishing and mislabelling worldwide.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1845

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