Wrench in the Works...

So I've had a small problem with beginning to sequence the Red Snapper DNA. I've been to a variety of markets and I can't find Red Snapper anywhere! So I'm tapping out other resources--the woman who runs the school dining hall, a friend's father who owns a fishing business. All I need is a small sample, about an ounce or two.

But it's not too big of a problem anyways, since the primers haven't arrived yet. But I can start sequencing the DNA and then put the DNA in a freezer until the primers arrive.

I'm off to find fish now...

Next Step: Sequencing!

So all I’m waiting for is the delivery of primers, and then I can begin to sequence DNA. We’ve decided to sequence Red Snapper, since a variety of fish species can legally be sold under that vernacular name. I’ll update as I figure out what I’m doing. I have a meeting tomorrow to discuss the procedure and make sure I know what’s going to happen. So excited!!

I'm Trying to Make It Easier for You

The main reason why I chose to chronicle my project in a blog instead of write a paper is that scientists and science students generally the only people who read scientific papers. After reading several dozen for this project alone, I understand why. I usually can only comprehend the introduction and conclusion of the paper, and sometimes parts of the discussion. But the when scientists start detailing their methods, I am completely lost. This annoys the hell out of me.
I don’t like not understanding. As a matter of fact, I hate not understanding something. I always try and find someone who can explain it to me, and I’m usually pretty quick about at least getting the gist. But when I read these papers, I am continually frustrated by my lack of comprehension. But I’m much too stubborn to just skip over the parts I know I won’t understand. I hope that by reading them again and again, one day I’ll understand.
Two of the three articles I’ve read over the past two days have been primarily methods-based. They detail methods for identifying types of tuna and types of shark using different techniques and databases. In the one by M. Barbaruto et al., their experiment showed that approximately 80% of the shark meat labeled as “palombo” is not one of the two species that are legally allowed to be sold under that name. Instead, a cheaper shark meat is substituted. But as in all cases of fish fraud, once the morphological features (fins, scales, etc.) are removed, the creatures are often indistinguishable from one other except by DNA barcoding. A method for sequencing the DNA of smoked fish was detailed in the paper by M. Espiñera et al.
The last article I read was about what motivates consumers to purchase green products. It analyzes the morale motivation and external motivation behind purchasing ecologically-friendly products. Some of the factors involved in a person’s desire to act for the benefit of humanity, not simply for personal reasons. This article said that a well-educated young female is the type of person most likely to buy environmentally friendly products.

Yummy!!

I was looking up sea-themed cakes and I found this gorgeous piece. Check out the website. It has a how-to section.
Now I must find an excuse to make it!!
source: http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/ocean-cake.html#c11

I'm BAAAAACK

It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog. My apologies, but I was on Spring Break and that sweet taste of freedom has infected me with a severe case of Senioritis. But I’m back, and this project is still going. So here’s an update on my three goals.
1. Still trying to raise awareness. In addition to this blog, I’ve been telling friends, family, and strangers alike about what I’ve learned since I started my research. I’ve just finished three incredible articles which I will be sharing with you in a later post.
2. I’ve revised this part of my goal. Instead of surveying consumer awareness, my prior video will be part of my goal to include other people’s thoughts and opinions in my blog. I’ll be interviewing a few experts and people who are involved in the fishing industry.
3. Almost all the materials I need to sequence DNA have arrived, so this leg of the project will be started soon. To prepare for this, I’ve been reading papers detailing how other researchers have done similar projects. While I only understand about 40% of these papers, my teacher is helping me to learn exactly what I’m doing. I’m hoping to record another video documenting my steps.
So that’s what is to come. Stay tuned!

First Attempt

Equipment:
Permission to stand outside of Trader Joe's
1 camera with video capabilities
1 tripod whose legs refused to extend
15+ prepared questions
1 tray of treats (homemade granola bars)
1 videographer and wingman, Alena

Methods:
Everything seemed to go wrong today. First, my friends sampled the organic brownies I had made along with the homemade granola bars. They were super hard and tasted like crap. To quote my best friend, those brownies were where chocolate went to die. So those were thrown out of the car window as we drove to Trader Joe's. Then, I showed up and was getting everything situated with Alena when I realized that I had forgotten my questions! I could remember only three of the fifteen or so that I had prepared, so I just ran with those. So already shaken, I had to start asking people to talk to me.

Easier said than done. As I said, some people went out of their way to avoid me. Others just ignored me. Some were very polite, acknowledging my presence and moving on. I talked to a handful of lovely people who agreed to be videotaped. I ended up with enough material to make a short video before my memory card was full.

So here are my revisions to my plan. Firstly, I need to bring an extra memory card or a real camcorder because right after we ran out of memory, a fantastic man who worked with the aquarium took the time to talk with me and I would have loved to have had him on the video. Secondly, I think I need to pick a different venue. Farmer's Market would be a lot more conducive to good interviews. I think people there would be less in a rush and more willing to stop and talk to me. Thirdly, I need to do a bit more research. Some people asked me questions that completely threw me off. Not that I hadn't done my research--I had--but I was so surprised I had trouble forming coherent sentences. So I looked a bit like a bumbling idiot. Finally, I need to watch my treats more carefully. A few children and one adult snatched them while I was interviewing someone.

But, all that aside, I did pretty well for my first day out. Here's the finished video. Not bad for only my second time using iMovie.



Oh, and one woman asked for my granola bar recipe. It's pretty simple:
1 c. sugar 1 c. flour
1 c. butter 1 c. granola
2 c. Quick oats 2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking pan. Mix all ingredients well, place in pan, then bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Now I'm going to get some sleep. Today was exhausting

What a Day...

Next time I see someone with a clipboard, I will give them a hug. I could've used one today.

I learned a lot today, about sustainable practices and about people. I learned that people are more likely to go out of their way to avoid you than to smile and say, "No thank you." I learned that some people are extremely afraid of being videotaped. And I listened to some lovely people who shared their insights about sustainable seafood practices and their personal experiences with me. I was happy every time just one person stopped to talk to me.

So thank you, thank you, thank you to every person who stopped and gave a little bit of their day to answer a few short questions. I am in your debt.

I am currently editing my video and will post it, along with my methods for collecting this data very soon.

Take Care!

In Preparation

On Monday I go out into the community to begin my survey of consumer awareness of sustainable seafood. I’ve got my questions ready, I’ve found a tripod, I’m charging my camera, I’ve prepared treats, and I’ve picked up some sustainable seafood pocket guides.

I’m nervous as hell.

I’m really putting myself out there and I’m afraid no one will take the time to talk to me. If this fails, I don’t know how Part 1 of my project will progress. I’ve baked treats to try and entice people to talk to me. I hope I’ll be taken seriously. It would really be frustrating if, after all this prep, my plan falls through.

But I guess that happens a lot in science. You create an experiment to try and test a theory, and everything goes wrong. And back to the drawing board you go.

As Thomas Edison said, “Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.”

Musings on Seafood

I don’t usually eat seafood. Many people find this strange, since I’m so passionate about this project.

Last night, I ate fish for the first time this year. I had the grilled Mahi Mahi that the school served. As I ate it, I realized how much this project was affecting me. I began to wonder whether I could taste the difference between Mahi Mahi and Yellowtail, or if they have different textures. I eat seafood so rarely that I honestly can't recognise what I ate. I can barely tell raw fish apart.

I guess that just fuels my indignation at having to worry about what fish I’m eating.

My school works very closely with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, and we are given lots of information about sustainable seafood. But I still worry. If top-tier restaurants will commit fish fraud, what’s to say my school won’t?

To work with this, I’ve shared my project with the woman who runs our dining hall. She’s helping me make contacts with Seafood Watch. I don’t think she would intentionally serve us substituted seafood, but the companies that provide our seafood might.

Yet another reason to keep blogging…

This Is Where It Gets Complicated...

What makes fish fraud so prevalent is that once a fish has been cleaned, it’s hard to tell what type of fish it is. This makes it nearly impossible for consumers to be completely sure what species of fish they’re buying. This, in turn, leads to a phenomenon I’ve coined fish fraud: the misbranding of seafood products. When tilapia is sold as red snapper, or skate wings served as scallops: That’s fish fraud.

So how long has this been going on?

I think this has probably been going on for ages. It’s basic economic fraud. In order to sell a product, one’s prices must be competitive. But set the prices too low and there’s no net income. So why not cut a few corners and turn a greater profit? It’s the same philosophy behind watering down sports drinks: they taste the same and are sold for the same price, but cost less to produce. So seafood venders try to pass off an inexpensive fish like tilapia as something that can be sold for more.

In 1988, the FDA published “The Fish List”, a set of guidelines for appropriate labeling of fish. In 1993, the list was expanded to include invertebrate species and renamed “The Seafood List”.

“The Seafood List” has each species of fish listed under four identities: the scientific name, the common scientific name, the market name, and the vernacular name.

Let’s look at an example. In a restaurant, you ordered the Sand Dab. This is a vernacular or slang name. A Sand Dab is not a species of fish. What you ordered could be Limanda ferruginea, or Yellowtail Flounder. Those are the fish’s true scientific name and common scientific name, respectively. The FDA approved market name for this fish is Flounder.

Let’s review:
Scientific Name = Common Scientific Name = Market Name = Vernacular Name

Limanda ferruginea = Yellowtail Flounder = Flounder = Sand Dab

So how do you tell exactly what you're ordering? Unfortunately, I doubt your waiter will know whether your Sand Dab is Yellowtail Flounder or American Plaice. But when consumers demand the resources to make more informed decisions about their seafood choices, those resources will be provided. Changes will be made.

For more information about sustainable seafood, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program and the Seafood Choices Alliance.
FishBase is the premier marine database. It cross-references all of a species’ various names.
To see the most common cases of fish fraud, check out this website by the FDA.

Sources: All linked websites
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Seafood/ucm113260.htm