Scientists on Tuesday said they had devised a DNA test to pinpoint the geographical origins of commercial seafish, in a breakthrough against illegal trawling that threatens fish stocks worldwide.
The technique so far has been developed for four species - Atlantic cod, Atlantic her-ring, common sole and European hake - under a campaign to combat fisheries fraud in Europe.
But it could easily be widened to more species and help fishery guardians in other jurisdictions, the researchers said.
The invention comprises a databank of changes to the genetic code, called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNiPs.
Species that come from a specific region, such as the North Sea herring or Baltic cod, have a SNiP profile that is exclusive to that area.
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