Genetic material reveals illegal sale in northern Brazil: the case of the critically endangered species Epinephelus itajara

The Atlantic goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822), is considered a critically endangered species. Since 2002, fishing, storage, transport, and marketing of E. itajara has been prohibited in Brazil. However, there are records of fishing of E. itajara in the Brazilian state of Para. This study recorded the illegal sale of E. itajara fillets in the municipality of Braganca, as well as fraud resulting from the substitution of one species for another. Through two distinct molecular procedures, 22 fillet samples sold as Atlantic goliath grouper were investigated. In total, 21 (95.5%) samples were confirmed as belonging to E. itajara and one was not. This demonstrates the weakness in the inspection process, which must be urgently adjusted, and it also revealed the need for a consistent, permanent, and effective program to raise awareness in the community of the damage caused by the illegal purchase and the need to preserve E. itajara.