Rapid, Portable Species-Identification with full-length mtDNA Sequencing to Combat the Illegal Wildlife Trade
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The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is estimated to be worth £17 billion annually. Tackling IWT as a serious organized crime has been highlighted by the UK government as a priority. In line with this, we have been developing a rapid, portable, universal DNA test to identify the species of-origin of suspected IWT products. The test is designed to generate full-length mtDNA reads with no prior knowledge of the species being investigated and to be performed with minimal equipment. The use of this test by enforcement officials at docksides or airports enables the identification of illegally trafficked goods in circumstances where visual inspection is inconclusive. We have been applying this test to ‘Europe’s own Ivory trade’, the smuggling of critically endangered and CITES appendix II listed European eel (Anguilla anguilla) out of the EU and into Asian markets, fetching up to £20,000 per kilogram of juvenile eel.