DNA barcoding reveals the presence of Whitson’s grenadier - Macrourus whitsoni in sub-Antarctic waters of South Georgia (Subarea 48.3)

Macrourid species represent a high proportion of the bycatch in Southern Ocean toothfish longline fisheries. Here we report the first confirmed occurrence of the Whitson’s grenadier (Macrourus whitsoni) in the toothfish longline fishery bycatches in South Georgia (Subarea 48.3).  DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cox1 gene confirmed the presence of M. whitsoni from samples collected around South Georgia and northern South Sandwich Islands (Subarea 48.4). The observed estimates of evolutionary divergence indicated a 1% divergence between M. whitsoni in South Georgia/South Sandwich samples and M. caml.