Forensic assignment to geographic origin, a useful tool in seafood fraud control

Area of Science:

• Forensic Genetics
• Conservation Genetics
• Fisheries Management

Background:

• Seafood fraud is a global issue with significant economic and conservation impacts.
• In Northern Spain, the first Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) catch of the season, known as "Campanu," holds special market value.
• A legal dispute arose in 2011 when the "Campanu" was allegedly misattributed to a different river of origin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first judicial application of geographical genetic assignment for fish in Spain.
• To investigate the origin of the 2011 "Campanu" and three subsequent salmon catches.
• To assess the effectiveness of genetic assignment in combating seafood fraud.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a panel of eight microsatellite loci for genetic analysis.
• Developed a comprehensive genetic baseline of regional rivers.
• Performed geographical genetic assignment on four salmon samples from the 2011 season.

Main Results:

• Genetic assignment revealed that the "Campanu" did not match the fisherman's declared river of origin.
• The other three salmon catches' genetic assignments were consistent with their stated origins.
• This case marks the first judicial use of genetic assignment in Spanish fisheries.

Conclusions:

• Geographical genetic assignment is a highly effective tool for verifying the origin of seafood.
• This methodology can serve as crucial evidence in legal proceedings against seafood fraud.
• The study supports the use of genetic tools to ensure fair trade and protect fish populations.