LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The world
cephalopod catch, which includes octopuses and squid, has increased
significantly over the past six decades. But octopus species are
often misidentified, and their catch numbers and locations
inaccurately reported, research shows, prompting fears that a
dearth of data about these mollusks could lead to overfishing,
threatening their future.
A multidisciplinary research team led by Loyola Marymount University aims to shift that
course by creating an innovative seafood traceability network that
will improve stock management and ensure the sustainability of
octopus fisheries. The project's first phase will be funded with a
$750,000 award over 12 months from
the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator.
"Working with a range of partners and leading-edge technology,
we plan to produce a traceability tool that will allow for a better
understanding of the species caught, the source of the product, and
confirmation of its legitimate path from fishery to fork," said
Demian Willette, assistant professor
of biology in LMU's Frank R. Seaver
College of Science and Engineering, who will serve as the
team's lead principal investigator.
The project is one of 28 awardees in the NSF Convergence
Accelerator's 2021 cohort. In the first phase, which includes nine
months of intensive training and planning, teams will develop
use-inspired solutions to societal challenges in two areas:
ocean-related industries and resources, or communications systems
aligned to combating misinformation, disinformation, and trust and
authenticity.
The 15-member team led by Willette includes experts from seven
countries in the fields of fisheries management, marine biology,
computer science, data science and analytics, environmental
anthropology, genetics, and fisheries trade policy. Additionally,
14 industry partners, from fishers to seafood processors, will help
inform and test the human-centered design of the traceability tool
for real-world use.
Their objectives are to develop a prototype traceability system
allowing for affordable identification of species and area of
capture for wild octopus fisheries in the U.S. and abroad; to bring
together a community-based citizen-science network to gather new
data from portable environmental DNA (eDNA) kits; and to set a
system in place to link traceability, sustainability and legality
to support the development of a blue economy around the octopus
value chain.
eDNA is free DNA that persists in the environment, providing an
indication of which organisms are prevalent or in the vicinity.
Water samples collected by team members off Southern California and Campeche/Yucatan,
Mexico will be analyzed at Willette's LMU laboratory, and
the results stored with other data in the SeaTraceBlueNet
dashboard.
While the team will focus on cephalopods, Willette said, its
overall aim is to provide a comprehensive system to enable any
seafood item to be harvested, distributed and processed through to
the consumer in sustainable ways.
"The Convergence Accelerator's curriculum, consisting of
human-centered design, user discovery, team science, early-stage
prototyping, and pitch preparation is designed to provide our
funded teams the tools to transition their solutions into
practice," said Office Head Douglas Maughan of the NSF Convergence
Accelerator program. "Phase One teams are expected to apply the
curriculum, as well as focus on cross-cutting partnerships as most
national-scale challenges cannot be solved with a single discipline
and expertise."
In addition to LMU, team members and industry partners
represent: The Bay Foundation; Tohoku University Graduate
School/Agricultural Science; National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); AiCeph LLC; Rhodes University; Booz Allen Hamilton; El Colegio de la Frontera
Sur; Jupiter Data Factory; Tohoku University Center for Northeast
Asian Studies; Brandenberg University of Technology; Alaska Pacific University; Aberystwyth University;
Netuno USA Inc.; North Atlantic
Inc.; Stavis Foods; Tetra Tech Inc.; Coastal Ocean Observing
System/Gulf of Mexico (GCOOS);
Marganzo Seafood; SmartFish Inc.; Santa Monica Seafood Inc.;
NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); Sociedad Coopertiva
Punta Maxtun; Sea Pact; and Iridian Genomes Inc.
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SOURCE Loyola Marymount
University