(SeafoodSource) The Philippines is now capable of DNA fingerprinting for fisheries, which is critical in food safety and in ensuring that global markets can trace the origin of fishery products.
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) is now utilizing DNA barcoding to reveal the genetic material of fish species.
The country’s capability in ensuring fishery food safety and supply traceability is critical for the fishery sector.
The Philippines is considered sixth in world fishery production, ninth in aquaculture, and third in aquatic plant production, primarily seaweeds.
Without accurate identification of fish species through DNA barcoding, mislabeling of fishery species may occur.
Consumers may be misled into paying more than the actual value of goods they are buying, according to NFRDI’s Benedict A. Maralit and five co-authors in their entry at the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)-National Research Symposium (NRS).