Saving Seafood

The Secret To Better Fisheries Management Is Hidden In Their DNA

August 10, 2022 — DNA sequencing has gotten to be a lot less expensive and that has opened the door for many different uses. It is now relatively cheap to have your own DNA evaluated by services like 23andme or MyHeritage or Ancestry.com. You can learn about your ethnic background and even get connected with relatives you never knew. Sometimes there are surprises. While oral or written family histories are often incomplete or “sanitized,” the DNA record is fully transparent. It is also increasingly possible to learn about potential health risks you may have inherited.

There is an interesting application of DNA sequencing for tracking the “ethnicity” for ocean dwelling fish. Of course in that case it isn’t the fish who want the information – it’s the government agencies around the world who are responsible for managing ocean “fisheries” – the populations of wild fish that make up a significant part of the human food supply of protein and which provide healthy omega-3 fats and important minerals. According to a paper published in 2020 in the journal Nature titled “The Future of Food From the Sea,” humans currently derive 59 million metric tonnes of “food from the sea” of which 84% is from wild caught fisheries, and 16% is from “mariculture” – farmed fish and bivalves. That represents 17% of the global edible meat supply. By 2050 that amount is expected to increase to between 80 and 103 million metric tonnes, mostly through increases in mariculture. Even so, wild caught fish are still expected to provide between 56% and 71% of the 2050 total.

Humans have been harvesting ocean dwelling fish for centuries, and the ecosystems that support those fish are able to maintain a viable population even under a significant degree of human fishing pressure. However, there are historical examples of problematic overfishing such as the population of Atlantic cod that was once abundant off the coast of the US and Canada but which had collapsed by 1992.

Read the full article at Forbes

DNA in water samples can help document Alaska fish communities

April 1, 2022 — Scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service and University of Alaska have shown how an innovative DNA technology can be used to document the fish species that use Southeast Alaska’s nearshore waters.

For all its rich fisheries, Alaska’s geography, diverse coastal habitats and dynamic sea conditions make it challenging to study them using traditional sampling gear.

The scientists recently demonstrated that environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding can characterize nearshore fish communities in different marine habitats and tidal conditions in Southeast Alaska. The researchers’ organizations included the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Auke Bay Laboratories; University of Alaska Fairbanks’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; and the NMFS Alaska Regional Office’s Habitat Conservation Division.

“Environmental or eDNA can revolutionize how we assess nearshore fish communities in Alaska,” said Wes Larson, manager of the NMFS Alaska science center’s genetics program, in a narrative of the project released this week by NMFS.

“Traditionally, the only way to sample nearshore fish communities is by using beach seines or similar gear types set from either shore or small boats,” said Larson. “Now we have another technique for generating similar data sets analyzing a simple water sample with eDNA metabarcoding.”

Read the full story at National Fisherman

Scientists Use Innovative DNA Technology to Characterize Nearshore Marine Fish Communities in Southeast Alaska

March 31, 2022 — Alaska, known for its vast geography and cold, productive waters, supports some of the most valuable fisheries in the world. However, Alaska’s northern latitudes, diverse coastal habitats, and dynamic ocean conditions make studying these fisheries particularly challenging.

An innovative DNA technology may help to change that. Scientists recently demonstrated that environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding can characterize nearshore fish communities in different marine habitats and tidal conditions in Southeast Alaska. Researcher organizations included:

“Environmental or eDNA can revolutionize how we assess nearshore fish communities in Alaska,” said Wes Larson, manager of the science center’s genetics program. “Traditionally, the only way to sample nearshore fish communities is by using beach seines or similar gear types set from either shore or small boats. Now we have another technique for generating similar data sets analyzing a simple water sample with eDNA metabarcoding.”

Read the full story from NOAA Fisheries

Judge tosses Subway “fake tuna” lawsuit

October 8, 2021 — A federal judge has dismissed a class-action lawsuit claiming Subway Restaurants’ tuna sandwiches and wraps did not contain any actual tuna.

The lawsuit was filed on 21 January, and subsequently gained national media attention when a New York Times report claimed its lab testing didn’t find evidence of tuna DNA in the company’s sandwiches. At the time, the company defended its tuna products, and DNA testing experts contacted by SeafoodSource confirmed that the tests used by The New York Times wouldn’t have been adequate to detect tuna DNA.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

‘Environmental DNA’ Lets Scientists Probe Underwater Life

February 24, 2020 — Tracking down marine life isn’t easy. Ocean scientists drag nets through the water to find the fish or plankton they are looking for, tag whales with harpoon-like devices, or scuba dive with an erase-proof whiteboard and hand counter to tally reef fish. That’s how you count creatures underwater. But an emerging technology called environmental DNA, or eDNA, is easing this time-consuming and expensive process for scientists by allowing them to grab water samples and check for DNA.

Each drop of seawater contains thousands of microorganisms, as well as bits of skin, mucus, and waste shed by passing fish and mammals. Using a robotic laboratory mounted on an underwater drone that filters and sequences the DNA that it finds, scientists and engineers can now identify marine life without coming back to shore. “You don’t need a big ship to collect your samples,” says Chris Scholin, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, which is developing this new technology along with several other research groups across the US. “This has become portable and small enough to operate in real time on an autonomous underwater vehicle.”

Sampling remotely means that scientists might not have to go to sea in stormy weather to collect data, and can allow them to sample over a long period of time, instead of collecting information during a three- or four-week cruise. It also doesn’t require them to harvest the fish. Robotic vehicles recently traced the DNA of great white sharks congregating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, tracked tropical fish along the Jersey Shore as they headed north to escape climate change, and found farm-raised fish genes while screening samples from New York Harbor.

This new technology is driven by the marriage of a device the size of a thumb drive called an Oxford Nanopore Minion sequencer to another recent invention, ocean-going autonomous vehicles (AUVs) that no longer take commands from ship or shore. These devices can follow environmental signals, such as temperature, salinity or the optical properties of plankton, just like a hound sniffing out an escaped convict’s trail. (Researchers use sonar to find plankton, the way an angler would use a fish finder.)

Read the full story at Wired

Marine Stewardship Council: New research reveals levels of consumer trust in seafood labelling

March 16, 2016 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

Early results from the MSC’s latest survey of more than 16,000 seafood consumers show that more than half (55%) doubt that the seafood they consume is what it says on the packet. Across the 21 countries surveyed, 65% of those purchasing seafood say they want to know that their fish can be traced back to a known and trusted source, with six in ten (63%) saying they look to ecolabels as a trusted source of information.

The findings come as the organisation today released results from its DNA testing of MSC labelled seafood products. In 2015, the MSC commissioned the Wildlife DNA Forensics unit at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) to conduct DNA tests on a random sample of 257 MSC labelled seafood products from 16 countries. The test verifies that the species described on the packaging is the same as that in the product. The DNA test results show that over 99%* of MSC labelled products are correctly labelled.

MSC CEO Rupert Howes said, “Given a recent academic study showing that globally around 30% of seafood is mislabelled**, the results of the MSC’s DNA testing program are very positive. Seafood sold with the blue MSC label can be traced back to a sustainable source, and our robust chain of custody requirements provide reassurance that it’s correctly labelled.”

The latest round of DNA testing is the fifth to be commissioned by the MSC. Previous results also showed very little mislabelling. The results are captured in a new report, Ocean to plate: how DNA testing helps to ensure traceable sustainable seafood.

Mr Howes adds: “High profile food scares such as the European horsemeat scandal have left many consumers wary of claims made on food packaging. Food fraud undermines the efforts of reputable fishers and traders and has led to wide recognition of the need for credible traceability in the supply chain. The MSC Chain of Custody program is one of the most recognised and widely used ways of providing this reassurance to seafood consumers and businesses.”

Fishers, processors, retailers and chefs handling MSC certified sustainable seafood must follow strict requirements to ensure that seafood is traceable and correctly labelled. The MSC Chain of Custody Standard is used by international seafood suppliers, brands and retailers such as IKEA, McDonalds, Iglo and Lidl to ensure the integrity of their products.

Alfredd Schumm, WWF’s Smart Fishing Initiative leader said: “By preferentially purchasing sustainable seafood, consumers are rewarding responsible fishers and their efforts to safeguard our marine resources. A traceable supply chain, from the consumer back to sustainable fisheries, is fundamental to consumers’ trust and confidence in the seafood they’re buying. The MSC’s requirements for traceability are essential if we are to maintain healthy fish populations and ocean ecosystems.”

There are more than 20,000 MSC labelled products available in around 100 countries.

The MSC has released a new animation showing the journey of MSC certified seafood from ocean to plate. Follow: #OceanToPlate.

Read the release online at Reuters

New DNA results answer consumers’ demand for trust in seafood

March 15, 2016 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

Two-thirds (67 percent) of U.S. seafood consumers say they want to know that their fish can be traced back to a known and trusted source, with 58 percent saying they look to ecolabels as a trusted source of information. Globally, 55 percent doubt that the seafood they consume is what it says on the package. These findings are from the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) latest survey of more than 16,000 seafood consumers across 21 countries.

Today, the MSC also released results from DNA tests showing that over 99 percent* of MSC ecolabeled products are correctly labeled. In 2015, the MSC commissioned the Wildlife DNA Forensics unit at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) to conduct DNA tests on a random sample of 257 MSC ecolabeled seafood products from 16 countries. The test verifies that the species described on the packaging is the same as that in the product. By comparison, Oceana’s nationwide survey in 2013 found one-third (33 percent) of U.S. seafood samples genetically analyzed were mislabeled. 

Commenting on the results, Brian Perkins, MSC Regional Director – Americas, said, “The MSC’s DNA results prove you can trust that seafood sold with the blue MSC ecolabel really is what the package says it is and can be traced from ocean to plate. Last month, the U.S. government announced proposed rules that would require tracking to combat illegal fishing and fraud. Many businesses are left wondering whether they’re selling seafood that was produced legally and sustainably. MSC certification means consumers and businesses can be confident that MSC ecolabeled fish has been caught legally and can be traced back to a sustainable source.”

The latest round of DNA testing is the fifth to be commissioned by the MSC. Previous results also showed very little mislabeling of MSC ecolabeled seafood. The MSC’s DNA testing program and results are captured in a new report, Ocean to plate: How DNA testing helps to ensure traceable sustainable seafood.

MSC ecolabeled fish is sold and processed by certified organizations operating in more than 38,000 sites in over 100 countries. Fishers, processors, retailers and chefs handling MSC certified seafood must follow strict requirements to ensure that seafood is traceable and correctly labeled. The MSC Chain of Custody Standard is used by leading brands in driving awareness and consumer education on sustainable seafood such as Whole Foods, McDonald’s, and IKEA to ensure the integrity of the products they sell.

Susan Forsell, Vice President, Sustainability, McDonald’s USA said: “We know our customers care about where their food comes from, which is why McDonald’s USA is proud to only serve fish sourced from a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fishery. This means that our customers can confidently know that the wild-caught, Alaska Pollock they enjoy on our Filet-O-Fish sandwich can be traced back to sustainably managed fisheries, direct from the pristine waters of Alaska.”

Salmon breakthrough was driven by chance

November 25, 2015 — It was the early 1980s, and a group of Canadian fish farmers was hoping to find a way for salmon to thrive in the region’s frigid waters. So scientists in Newfoundland began experimenting with how to inject them with antifreeze proteins from an eel­-like creature known as ocean pout.

Instead, they found a way to make the fish grow more quickly.

That work, more than 30 years ago, led to the controversial breakthroughs that allowed AquaBounty Technologies, a biotechnology company in Maynard, to produce a rapidly growing salmon, which the Food and Drug Administration last week declared the first genetically altered animal fit for consumption.

“We thought if we can enhance the growth rate, that’s good for the industry, which can get fish to market faster,” said Garth Fletcher, a researcher at Memorial University in Newfoundland, who did the initial experiments that led to the creation of salmon that can grow twice as fast as those in the wild. Fletcher’s technique of inserting growth hormone from Chinook salmon and a “promoter gene” from ocean pout is now considered antiquated technology. But scientists say its commercial application heralds a new era of genetic engineering.  

Federal regulators on Thursday approved a Massachusetts biotechnology company’s bid to modify salmon for human consumption.

“We thought if we can enhance the growth rate, that’s good for the industry, which can get fish to market faster,” said Garth Fletcher, a researcher at Memorial University in Newfoundland, who did the initial experiments that led to the creation of salmon that can grow twice as fast as those in the wild.

Fletcher’s technique of inserting growth hormone from Chinook salmon and a “promoter gene” from ocean pout is now considered antiquated technology. But scientists say its commercial application heralds a new era of genetic engineering.

New techniques have allowed scientists to more precisely alter animal genomes by editing DNA to include or exclude beneficial or harmful traits. Researchers are now experimenting with modifying the genes of chickens so they don’t transfer avian flu, for example. They also want to develop pigs and cattle that are resistant to foot and mouth disease, and goats that produce a higher level of a microbial protein that may help treat diarrhea in people.

Read the full story at the Boston Globe

FDA OK’s genetically modified salmon

November 20, 2015 — For the first time, Americans will be able to dine on a genetically altered animal, after federal regulators on Thursday approved a Massachusetts biotechnology company’s bid to modify salmon for human consumption.

After years of testing the company’s modified fish, regulators said there are no “biologically relevant differences” between the so-called AquAdvantage salmon and other farm-raised Atlantic salmon. Still, for the time being the FDA has barred the fish from being cultivated in the United States and has issued strict regulations to prevent the modified salmon from breeding with those in the wild.

The decision was a big win for AquaBounty, which began seeking approval in the 1990s for its technique of inserting growth hormone genes from Chinook salmon and an eel-like creature called ocean pout into the DNA of Atlantic salmon. The faster the fish grow, the more the company can produce and sell, potentially reducing overfishing of the oceans and developing a new source of food for a growing global population.

Company officials said the federal approval would create a new industry in the United States, which they say imports 95 percent of its Atlantic salmon. But it was unclear how long it might take before the fish appear in supermarkets.

“AquAdvantage salmon is a game-changer that brings healthy and nutritious food to consumers in an environmentally responsible manner, without damaging the ocean and other marine habitats,” Ronald L. Stotish, the chief executive of AquaBounty, said in a statement.

Read the full story at the Boston Globe

Inside North Carolina Science: DNA markers track fish migration

November 1, 2015 — On a cloudy spring day last year, I had the opportunity to go out on the Roanoke River with biologists from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. I collected fish with them as part of my job as a geneticist at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. We work in conjunction with NCWRC and use genetics to track and manage stocking programs for American shad, a native fish currently in decline.

In an effort to bring American shad back to traditional population numbers, NCWRC goes out on the Roanoke and Neuse rivers every spring to collect adult American shad returning to spawn. These fish are taken to hatcheries to spawn; eggs are allowed to hatch safely without being eaten by the predators that share their river ecosystem. The baby fish, called fry, are then released back into the river. In the fall, NCWRC goes back onto the rivers to see how many juvenile fish they can find.

Read the full story at The Charlotte Observer