A new ‘genetic chip’ is set to guarantee the authenticity of the Galician mussel and help in its sustainable production.
Mussels account for a third of farmed seafood and fish in the European Union, with Galicia in Spain the leading producer of one of two main species – Mytilus galloprovincialis, also known as the Galician or Mediterranean mussel.
Guaranteeing this species’ authenticity is critical owing to its importance in international trade so researchers at AZTI and the University of Santiago have worked together to develop a ‘genetic chip’ which can identify and validate samples.
“Tracing the geographical origin of this species is crucial to developing and implementing management strategies to mitigate invasion and protect the sustainable exploitation of native species,” explain Aedne del Río, an AZTI researcher and expert in food integrity.
Using a next generation sequencing techniques, researchers analysed more than 200 samples and identified 17 specific markers that make it possible to distinguish the geographical origin of the mussels with high accuracy.
The ability to accurately identify the origin of mussels, as well as being very important for the sustainable management of aquaculture and fisheries, also has implications for producers, authorities and consumers.
“Producers can use these genetic markets to certify the origin of their products and boost consumer confidence. For their part, food authorities can use this information to ensure compliance with traceability and food safety regulations,” added Ana del Río.
The research is part of the SEATRACES project, led by CSIC, the Spanish scientific research council and funded by the EU Interreg Atlantic Area programme.
