• Singapore’s NParks, Microsoft, Conservation International launch Fin Finder, AI-powered shark and ray fin ID app. • First mobile app in Asia to visually identify illegal shark and ray species. • Uses AI on Azure to match fin photos against 15,000-image database in seconds. • Reduces DNA testing time from up to a week to instant identification for customs officers. • Aims to curb illegal wildlife trade, protecting over 30 CITES-listed shark and ray species. • Collaboration demonstrates tech-driven conservation and supports CITES Appendix II enforcement.
Article Summaries:
- Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks), Microsoft and Conservation International have launched Fin Finder, Asia’s first AI‑powered mobile app that visually identifies shark and ray fins. The app, built on Microsoft Azure, matches photographs against a database of over 15,000 fin images, providing species identification in seconds. This replaces the current week‑long DNA testing process used to enforce CITES regulations on the more than 160,000 kg of fins that entered Singapore between 2012 and 2020. By enabling rapid on‑site flagging of suspicious shipments, Fin Finder aims to strengthen enforcement against illegal wildlife trade and support Singapore’s role as a key transhipment hub.
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