Seafood traceability: current needs, available tools, and biotechnological challenges for origin certification

• Seafood traceability is critical for food safety but is still poorly implemented.
• Biotechnology may assist in the fight against fraud and unregulated fisheries.
• Traceability benefits producers and consumers through origin certification.

Market globalization and recurring food safety alerts have resulted in a growing consumer awareness of the need for food traceability. This is particularly relevant for seafood due to its perishable nature and importance as a key protein source for the population of the world. Here, we provide an overview of the current needs for seafood origin traceability, along with the limitations and challenges for its implementation. We focus on geochemical, biochemical, and molecular tools and how they should be optimized to be implemented globally and to address our societal needs. We suggest that seafood traceability is key to enforcing food safety regulations and fisheries control, combat fraud, and fulfill present and future expectations of conscientious producers, consumers, and authorities.