SBIR-STTR Award

Species substitution with a product of lesser value has become an increasing problem within the seafood industry. Increased international trade, rising consumption rates, and high profit incentives have all contributed to the intentional mislabeling of seafood. While whole, unprocessed fish can generally be identified by their morphological features, processing of seafood makes identification challenging. Current methods to identify seafood species require a laboratory environment, trained users and these methods are time-consuming. Lynntech’s proposed detection system will provide an economical, rapid, user-friendly, field-ready method to determine species identification. In this Phase I feasibility effort, we will develop our assay to detect a single dietary fish, as well as two species that are illegally used as seafood substitutes. During Phase II, we will expand our assay to detect additional species and conduct field studies. Our final product will allow for the identification of at least five commercially important fish species and will be Wi-Fi capable. The Lynntech ditection assay will advance efforts to prevent illegally harvested fish from entering the marketplace and ports as well as in restaurants.

Substitutions, replacing high-priced, quality fish with fish of lesser value is an ever-growing concern in the seafood industry. Recent studies have shown that 33% of the seafood samples tested in a US study were mislabeled. The most common mislabeled samples were those sold as snapper (89%). In fact, 94% of the samples labeled as red snapper were NOT red snapper. In response to this problem, Lynntech is developing a DNA-based technology that will identify specific seafood species. This will be a field-ready, point-of-use identification system to expose seafood mislabeling. It is designed to be exquisitely specific, user-friendly, and competitively priced. Our eventual Seafood Authenticity System will provide a sample-toanswer analysis of the seafood sample in approximately one hour. Indeed, development of our seafood identification system will have a positive impact on the seafood industry and commercial market, preventing mislabeled fish from entering the marketplace and ports, as well as grocery stores and restaurants. An added benefit of Lynntech’s Seafood Authenticity System is that is can be readily modified to identify additional fish beyond those proposed in this study.