scholarly journals Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fisheries Threatening Shark Conservation in African Waters Revealed from High Levels of Shark Mislabelling in Ghana

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1002
Author(s):  
Narkie Akua Agyeman ◽  
Carmen Blanco-Fernandez ◽  
Sophie Leonie Steinhaussen ◽  
Eva Garcia-Vazquez ◽  
Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino

Mislabelling of fish and fish products has attracted much attention over the last decades, following public awareness of the practice of substituting high-value with low-value fish in markets, restaurants, and processed seafood. In some cases, mislabelling includes illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, contributing to overexploit substitute species that are undetectable when sold under wrong names. This is the first study of DNA barcoding to assess the level of mislabelling in fish marketed in Ghana, focusing on endangered shark species. Genetic identification was obtained from 650 base pair sequences within the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. All except one of 17 shark fillets analysed were wrongly labelled as compared with none of 28 samples of small commercial pelagic fish and 14 commercial shark samples purchased in Europe. Several substitute shark species in Ghana are endangered (Carcharhinus signatus and Isurus oxyrinchus) and critically endangered (Squatina aculeata). Shark products commercialized in Europe (n = 14) did not reveal mislabelling, thus specific shark mislabelling cannot be generalized. Although based on a limited number of samples and fish markets, the results that reveal trade of endangered sharks in Ghana markets encourage Ghanaian authorities to improve controls to enforce conservation measures.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asadatun Abdullah ◽  
MALA NURILMALA ◽  
EFIN MUTTAQIN ◽  
IRFAN YULIANTO

Abstract. Abdullah A, Nurilmala M, Muttaqin E, Yulianto I. 2020. DNA-based analysis of shark products sold on the Indonesian market towards seafood labelling accuracy program. Biodiversitas 21: 1385-1390. Authentication of fishery products has relied mainly on DNA analysis of mitochondrial genes such as cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) DNA barcoding and cytochrome b (cyt b) gene fragments. The trend of sharks and rays food products trading in Indonesia significantly increased, due to their important role as protein source which may threaten the vulnerability status of some species. This study was aimed to determine the reliability of COI mini- DNA barcode and cyt b fragment for identification of shark species of heavily processed fishery products. We found the mini-DNA barcode was an effective tool to identify the shark species traded in local markets with most of the sample identifies as Carcharhinus falciformis. Our results highlight the urgency of applying DNA-based method as a routine method to control the labelling of Indonesian fish products and to manage sustainable fisheries.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1757
Author(s):  
Davide Mugetti ◽  
Elena Colombino ◽  
Vasco Menconi ◽  
Fulvio Garibaldi ◽  
Walter Mignone ◽  
...  

The genus Pennella comprises hematophagous parasites of marine aquatic species, including cephalopods, marine mammals, and pelagic fish. Nine species have been officially included in the genus Pennella plus another six species inquirendae. They are most often found in the host’s musculature, without penetrating internal organs. For the present study, 83 hearts from swordfish (Xiphias gladius) caught in the Mediterranean Sea were sampled and immediately fixed in formalin for histopathological analysis. In total, 10 (12.05%) hearts were found to be parasitized by copepods of the genus Pennella. Macroscopically, there was mild-to-severe fibrinous pericarditis with atrial wall thickening and multiple parasitic nodules. Histologically, the parasitic nodules were surrounded by an inflammatory-necrotizing reaction. Parasitic infestation by Pennella spp. is common in pelagic fish and in swordfish, in particular. Here, however, we report atypical cardiac localization. A future area of focus is the evaluation of cardiac Pennella spp. infestation by histopathology and genetic identification of the parasites.


Author(s):  
Sumaira Yousaf ◽  
Abdul Rehman ◽  
Mariyam Masood ◽  
Kazam Ali ◽  
Nazia Suleman

AbstractThe fall armyworm (FAW), an invasive pest of maize, is an emerging threat in Southern Asia after America and Europe. Recently, this notorious pest has also been found in different areas of Pakistan. To assess its presence in Pakistan, a survey was carried out in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during May–October 2019. We observed the highest incidence of FAW in Sindh with maximum impact in districts Tando-Allahyar and Hyderabad. These samples were identified as Spodoptera frugiperda on the morphological and taxonomical bases. However, morphological identification of this pest is very difficult at early larval instars. Here, we use the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene region for the precise identification of larva of this invasive pest at species level. Two different regions of COI gene (COI-5′ and COI-3′) were used as molecular markers for the identification of this species. DNA sequence similarity searches of the obtained COI gene sequences (NCBI GenBank Accession Nos. MW241537, MW241538, MW349515, MW349516, MW349493 and MW349494) revealed that genetically it is more than 99% identical to S. frugiperda. The phylogenetic analysis indicated it as the rice-strain (R-strain). Both 3′- and 5′-fragment tree topologies showed that the collected samples of the FAW species belong to the R-strain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report providing molecular evidence for the existence of R-strain of S. frugiperda that was found feeding on maize crop in Sindh, Pakistan, using COI gene sequences as a marker.


Jurnal MIPA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Claudius F. Kairupan ◽  
Jantje Pelealu ◽  
Juliet M.E. Mamahit

Daerah Modoinding dan Tomohon di Sulawesi Utara, dikenal sebagai  daerah penghasil sayuran kubis di Indonesia. Sayuran kubis memiliki hama utama yaitu Plutella xylostella. Penyebab serangga ini dapat bertahan hingga saat ini karena adanya sifat resistensi akibat pemberian insektisida yang berlebihan. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menganalisis variasi pada gen cytochrome C oxidase IPlutella xylostella yang diperoleh dari dua lokasi yang berbeda, yaitu Modoinding dan Tomohon. Analisis sekuens menunjukkan adanya perbedaan pasang basa nukleotida dari sampel yang berbeda lokasi. Selain itu, variasi juga ditunjukkan pada sampel yang diperoleh dari basis data GenBank dengan adanya perbedaan 1-14 pasang basa nukleotida dengan spesimen pada penelitian ini. Hubungan kekerabatan gen COI P. xylostella keseluruhan sampel tergolong dalam variasi intraspesies dengan nilai jarak genetik berkisar antara 0-0,022 (0-2,20%).Modoinding and Tomohon areas in North Sulawesi, are known as regions in Indonesia that produce a cabbage. The main pest of cabbage, Plutella xylostella. This insect can survive due to its resistance resulted from prolonged insecticide application. This study aims to analyze genetic variation of COI genes in P. xylostella from Modoinding and Tomohon areas. Sequence analysis showed there were differences in nucleotide base pairs between these locations. In addition, variations were also shown in samples obtained from the GenBank database with differences in 1-14 nucleotide base pairs with specimens in this study. The genetic relationship of P. xylostella COI gene in all samples was classified as intraspecific variation with genetic distance values ranging from 0-0,022 (0-2,20%).D aerah Modoinding dan Tomohon di Sulawesi Utara, dikenal sebagaidaerah penghasil sayuran kubis di Indonesia. Sayuran kubis memilikihama utama yaitu Plutella xylostella. Penyebab serangga ini dapatbertahan hingga saat ini karena adanya sifat resistensi akibat pemberianinsektisida yang berlebihan. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menganalisisvariasi pada gen cytochrome C oxidase I Plutella xylostella yang diperolehdari dua lokasi yang berbeda, yaitu Modoinding dan Tomohon. Analisissekuens menunjukkan adanya perbedaan pasang basa nukleotida darisampel yang berbeda lokasi. Selain itu, variasi juga ditunjukkan padasampel yang diperoleh dari basis data GenBank dengan adanyaperbedaan 1-14 pasang basa nukleotida dengan spesimen padapenelitian ini. Hubungan kekerabatan gen COI P. xylostella keseluruhansampel tergolong dalam variasi intraspesies dengan nilai jarak genetikberkisar antara 0-0,022 (0-2,20%).


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamish G. Spencer ◽  
Bruce A. Marshall ◽  
Jonathan M. Waters

The seven currently recognised New Zealand species in the gastropod genus Diloma Philippi, 1845 are an important component of New Zealand’s littoral biodiversity across a range of intertidal habitats. A new cryptic species in this genus (Diloma durvillaea, sp. nov.) is described largely on molecular grounds from exposed coasts of the South Island of New Zealand from Lyttelton south, as well as the Auckland Islands. The shell is very similar to D. arida (Finlay, 1926), differing subtly in having stronger spiral ribs and less extensive or no yellow spotting. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene shows these two species are sister-taxa and are more distinct from each other (genetic distance 11.5%) than are the morphologically divergent sister-species D. subrostrata (Gray, 1835) and D. aethiops (Gmelin, 1791) (8.2%), also from New Zealand. The new species is found in a novel habitat for the genus, in the holdfasts and on the blades of the bull kelp, Durvillaea antarctica (Cham.) Har. (Phaeophyta), at the low-tide mark on exposed coasts, whereas D. arida occurs higher up on the shore, as well as in more sheltered situations.


2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Moura ◽  
Mónica C. Silva ◽  
Ivone Figueiredo ◽  
Ana Neves ◽  
Pablo Durán Muñoz ◽  
...  

Two genera of elasmobranchii, Centrophorus and Centroscymnus, include species that represent the highest landings of deep-water sharks caught by fishing fleets operating in the north-east Atlantic. There are morphology-based identification problems among and within genera, and landings of processed shark products further prevent an objective assessment of these species. The present study is the first attempt to test the suitability of using a DNA barcode approach to discriminate accurately among the four most important commercial deep-water shark species: Centrophorus squamosus, Centrophorus granulosus, Centroscymnus coelolepis and, recently discovered in Portuguese ports, Centroscymnus owstoni. Sequence analyses of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene revealed low levels of haplotypic and genetic diversities. Higher levels of inter-specific relative to intra-specific divergences allowed discrimination among species, which form reciprocally monophyletic clades. Inclusion of published COI sequences from other species within the same genera revealed haplotype sharing among species, which calls into question the current taxonomy and accuracy of fisheries data available. Amplification of the COI gene coupled with MboI restriction digests was found to be a fast and inexpensive strategy to resolve within genera identification problems. Molecular barcoding constitutes a critical tool for the assessment and implementation of urgent management policies for this group of species.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Perkasa Arian ◽  
I Made Artika ◽  
Syamsul Falah

DNA barcoding has become a useful tool for identifying and confirming of species within a known taxonomic framework. A large-scale effort is underway to barcode all amphibian species using the universally sequenced DNA region, a partial fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). This study was aimed to use DNA barcoding technique to identify and confirm species of Polypedates leucomystax and to analyze their phylogenetic relationship. Samples of Polypedates leucomystax were collected from Campus Area of Bogor Agricultural University. The cytochrome oxidase I gene of 600-700 nucleotides were amplified and observed in agarose gel electrophoresis. Forward sequence (604 base pairs) of COI gene was used for phylogenetic analyses. BLAST analysis against BOLD System database showed 95.75% identity with sequences of Polypedates leucomystax. The pairwise genetic distances of Polypedates leucomystax with Rhacophorus schlegelii, Limnonectes fujianensis, Fejervarya cancrivora, and Bufo melanostictus were 0.274, 0.352, 0.339, 0.339, 0.393, respectively. These results illustrated that the genetic identification is congruence with the morphological identification. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the samples were in one clade with other tree frogs. The DNA barcoding technique based on the sequence of COI gene can therefore be used to identify and confirm species of Polypedates leucomystax.


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