Isotopes, Genetic Markers and Microbiome: Tools for seafood traceability

The increased demand for seafood, which accounts for 15% of global animal protein production, has inevitably raised the need for effective traceability systems to guarantee food safety and transparency, and to prevent overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated activities (IUU). Such systems are essential for combating fraud and ensuring the correct development of the seafood market, enabling the exploitation of its nutritional and sustainable potential. Here, the current state of the art in technologies applied to seafood traceability is reviewed. The focus will be on three scientific approaches: stable isotope analysis, genetic markers, and fish-associated microbiota profiling, a novel approach that traces geographical origin based on unique bacterial communities. This study reviews the principles and application cases of these methods, emphasizing the advancements in these tools required to meet the growing demand for seafood.