Project:

Using DNA Barcodes to Identify Mislabeled Red Snappers Sold in New York City Fish Markets

Students:

Ajenae Jackson, Darvin Huang

Institution:

John Jay College, CUNY, Manhattan

Mentors:

Richard Li

Abstract:

Mislabeled fish were often found in New York City fish markets. Usually more expensive fish are substituted by cheaper ones. Previously, a pilot study carried out in our laboratory suggested that red snapper is a common fish related to seafood mis-labeling in New York City fish markets. In the States, the only species that can be officially considered the red snapper is Lutjanus campechanus. L. campechanus is a reef fish found in the Western Atlantic off the Southern U.S. coast and the Gulf of Mexico. L. campechanus is often substituted by the less expensive fishes in the Lutjanus family. Visual examination is not easy to distinguish these closely related species. In this study, we will carry out additional studies to confirm if the substitution of red snapper was an on-going problem.

Poster:

Team samples: