Fish populations and traceability (FishPopTrace) (38283)

The underlying rationale of FishPopTrace was to assess and address challenges arising from the development of traceability tools within a forensic framework for four judiciously chosen target species: cod (Gadus morhua), hake (Merluccius merluccius), herring (Clupea harengus) and sole (Solea solea). Prevoius information on levels of population structuring in traits such as life histories, morphometrics, genetics and physiology was used to inform sample choice. 
The new data was restricted to markers at two levels: 
- Routine screening:selection of markers that exhibit maximal discriminatory power to identify populations, though with discrete and controlled variance enabling validation(single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and otolith microchemistry and morphometrics). Data from DNA based methods provided a mechanism for traceability throughout the food supply chain (“fish to fork”) and indicated discrete spawning populations, whereas otoliths aimed at providing an independent on-board traceability system of fish provenance. 
- Testing of novel tools: additional tools were tested on a selection of populations to assess validity and potential for traceability and validation, including fatty acid analysis, proteomics, gene expression analysis and the generation of high-throughput microarray platforms for SNP genotyping. 
Thus, FishPopTrace provided information relating to geography (“population tag”), as well asregional signatures that indicate biological differentiation in relation tospawning identity. 
The project was coordinated by University of Wales Bangor, UK and funded by EU, Framework Programme 7.
Research area: Population Genetics