DNA barcoding of fresh seafood in Australian markets reveals misleading labelling and sale of endangered species

Khalil, Andrew M.;Gainsford, Ashton;van Herwerden, Lynne

Abstract

Flake and shark samples were purchased from outlets in several coastal Australian regions and genetically barcoded using the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene to investigate labelling reliability and species-specific sources of ambiguously labelled fillets. Of the 41 shark fillet samples obtained, 23 yielded high-quality CO1 sequences, out of which 57% (n = 13) were labelled ambiguously (misleading) and 35% (n = 8) incorrectly. In contrast, barramundi fillets, which are widely available and sought after in Australian markets, were shown to be accurately labelled. Species identified from shark samples, including the shortfin mako (n = 3) and the scalloped hammerhead (n = 1), are assessed by the IUCN as endangered and critically endangered, respectively, with several others classified as vulnerable and near threatened.

Journal

Journal of Fish Biology

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Volume

102

ISBN/ISSN

1095-8649

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Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

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DOI

10.1111/jfb.15308