Molecular identification of fish species sold in Brasília

• Grant number: 25/23951-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 12, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Fausto Foresti
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Daldegan Couto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The fish trade in Brasília encompasses a wide variety of species, both continental and marine, from different regions of the country. However, the lack of diagnostic morphological characteristics in processed products-such as filleted, gutted, or frozen fish-makes it difficult to correctly identify species and favors the occurrence of mislabeling, the sale of incorrectly labeled products. This practice can generate economic, health, and environmental impacts, in addition to undermining consumer confidence and hindering the control of the sale of endangered species. In this context, the project aims to apply molecular biology techniques to genetically identify fish species sold in fishmongers in Brasília, Federal District, with the goal of detecting cases of mislabeling and strengthening monitoring and conservation efforts for the ichthyofauna sold in the region. This approach is based on the use of DNA barcoding, widely used in molecular fish identification studies.