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Sometimes it is important to know where a particular fish or shellfish came from to ensure it was harvested legally. Forensic DNA tools are particularly useful in catching and prosecuting poachers, some of whom have been surprised when DNA fingerprinting has demonstrated their confiscated fish or shellfish was in fact poached or illegally harvested, and they are then prosecuted! For fragile populations of B.C. pinto abalone, having the genetic profiles of Canadian populations makes it difficult, if not impossible, for poachers to claim their abalone was imported. The department has successfully prosecuted cases dealing with salmon and abalone based on DNA evidence.
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