Identification of Atlantic hake species by a simple PCR-based methodology employing microsatellite loci

Three Atlantic hake species (Merluccius merluccius, M. bilinearis, and M. hubbsi) were PCR typed for two microsatellite loci. A blind survey of the markers in samples of the three species determined the suitability of microsatellite loci for identification of hake product. All the analyzed samples were correctly assigned to the corresponding species. Typing of processed products (fish fingers, preprocessed frozen pieces) employing an automated sequencer was successful. This simple (PCR + fragment size) automated determination method is faster than any other method yet described for identification of hake commercial products.