Control of origin of fishery products

The diversity of fish species is often well represented by our menus. However, this is not the place where species diversity is desired the most. It is not rare to see that catches from illegal or unregulated fisheries appear on the European market. This can only be prevented by an assured identification of species and proofs of origin. Especially for the identification of processed fishery products like filets or canned goods the use of genetic fingerprints is essential. We use modern genetic methods to improve the traceability of fishery products. By that we aim at helping to identify illegal fishery activities and to enhance consumer protection. On the basis of a unique collection of reference samples from the entire Eastern Atlantic from South Africa to the North Sea, all commercially important species from West Africa are genetically characterized by gene sequences in order to make the data available in a public data base. The data base will help regulatory authorities and consumer protectors to identify illegal imports of fishery products. Because the origin of migratory fish species is often difficult to determine, the heavily exploited Yellowfin tuna is examined by developing exemplary genetic markers via whole genome sequencing in order to reveal the population structure of this species that is distributed over all tropical oceans around the world.