PCR Based Diagnostic for Species Identification of Red Snapper and Other Commercial Snapper Species

Red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, is one of the most economically important fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. While there are numerous species of snapper marketed worldwide, in the United States L. campechanus is known as the true red snapper and the only species that can legally be labeled simply "Red Snapper". Another snapper species, Lutjanus purpureus, which is harvested in the South Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, can be labeled red snapper but requires the port of landing in the label such as Caribbean red snapper to indicate that it is not L. campechanus. Due to the significant price difference between L. campechanus and all other snapper species, it is common practice for distributors and retailers to simply label the product "Red Snapper" regardless of the species or country of origin label. In addition, the continued demand for red snapper has contributed to flagrant over fishing of the species. Misidentification of snapper at harvest, results in misrepresentation of a given snapper species population and negates species management efforts. We are proposing the development of an efficient, commercially available, PCR-based diagnostic that will utilize specifically developed DNA markers and provide the level of reproducible discrimination needed to generate a useful snapper species identification method. The development of our assay will provide the industry as well as federal, state, and private labs with a valuable tool for validating the authenticity of red snapper and for managing conservation efforts.