Population-level epigenetics with seafood provenance implications for the Antarctic Toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni

This study investigates the use of DNA methylation to trace the geographical origin of Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni), a species with continuous distribution around Antarctica. Traditional molecular techniques have struggled to identify location-specific genetic markers due to the population connectivity facilitated by extensive larval dispersal. However, epigenetic signals, specifically DNA methylation which can contain imprints from the local environment, offer a promising alternative as a marker for provenance. Our research identified methylation differences in toothfish harvested by fisheries in different Antarctic regions, indicating this is a promising approach to assess the origin of seafood for fishery management purposes.