E-DNA Research on the Pacific
Canada C3 | The Narwhal | 2017
Scientist Amy Tabata records coordinates of a water sample taken off the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. Using gene sequencing, scientists are able to paint a much fuller picture of which marine species are where, simply by testing the water.
The capture of eDNA or ‘environmental DNA’ is a technique already being employed by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans to keep track of species, both native and invasive.
The practice, used in Canada since around 2013, is helping environmental managers get a more accurate sense of what species live in or migrate through a specific region and — rather than relying on difficult, expensive and, at-times, flawed use of by-catch or radar techniques — the capture of eDNA is as simple as tipping a cup off the side of your boat.
