Flying under the radar: DNA barcoding ray wings in Greece detects protected species and umbrella labelling terms

Mislabeling of seafood products and marketing of protected species remains a worldwide issue despite the labeling regulations set at a local, European and International level. DNA barcoding has proven to be the most popular and accurate method of detection of fraudulent seafood products. This study investigated the batoid meat market of Greece, the mislabeling rates and the protected species occurrence. A total of 114 ray products were collected from fishmongers, open markets, supermarkets, and restaurants across eight Greek cities. The cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was used to analyze samples, and the sequences were compared against genetic databases for species identification. At least 13 species across nine genera were identified. The results did not indicate significant differences in species utilization among cities, retailers, and labels. However, in the pairwise comparisons, Athens differed from all other locations and a similar trend was followed by the label salachi. Moderate mislabeling levels were recorded (13.5%), while 3.5% of the identified samples belonged to species with prohibitions on landings, confirming an ongoing market for protected species. Overall, 19.8% of the samples originated from species that are locally listed in threatened categories of the IUCN Red List of species.

Automated summary

Despite labeling regulations at local, European and International levels, mislabeling of seafood products and marketing of protected species remain global issues. DNA barcoding is an effective method for detecting fraudulent seafood products. A study in Greece found moderate levels of mislabeling in ray products, with some samples belonging to species with prohibitions on landings and threatened categories of the IUCN Red List.