Advanced Sustainable Seafood Science

What is your favorite seafood meal – lobster rolls, New England clam chowder – how about beer-battered fish tacos? Seafood is an important protein source worldwide and thus susceptible to a variety of fraudulent practices. Seafood mislabeling (substituting an inexpensive species for one of higher value) is surprisingly common in both domestic and international markets. Fish fraud has long been a known problem worldwide; however difficult to regulate. Past studies using DNA barcoding have reported alarmingly high rates of mislabeling, especially in Southern California. Because large quantities of seafood are imported to the U.S., some portion of mislabeling may originate from foreign supplies – as a result, the FDA is particularly interested in and readily updates a guide on proper practices for industry. In this study, students will be part of a long-term monitoring project of seafood fraud in San Diego and learn the technical skills used in molecular biology and conservation careers.