DNA barcoding and phylogenetic study as modern taxonomical tool for identifying commercial catch at Egyptian Meditreanean coast, Alexandria

Sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation rely
heavily on precisely identifying commercial fish species. Although morphological
taxonomy is generally beneficial, it is frequently inadequate when clarifying
uncertainties related to identifying species, particularly in specimens that have been
treated or are juvenile. DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis were intended to
be validated as modern, dependable taxonomic techniques for identifying commercial
fish species. Four fish species (Dicentrarchus labrax, Mullus surmuletus, Seriola
dumerili and Sparus aurata) were obtained from frequent commercial fish landings
along the Egyptian coastline of Mediterranean Sea at Alexanderia, that underwent
DNA barcoding for identification. The investigated species were successfully
identified using COI barcoding. In addition, accurate representation of established
taxonomic connections was achieved through further phylogenetic analysis, which
utilized the Tamura-Nei model and the Neighbor-Joining method to generate a tree
with strong bootstrap support. In conclusion, for the monitoring of commercial
fisheries, the present research findings significantly confirmed the effeciency
application of genetic approaches to species identification and highlighted their
capacity to supplement or surpass conventional methods. In addition to enhancing our
comprehension of species variety and evolutionary biology, the integration of DNA
barcoding and phylogenetic analysis helps identify species more accurately.