Singapore develops Asia’s first AI-based mobile app for shark and ray fin identification to combat illegal wildlife trade

• Singapore National Parks Board, Microsoft and Conservation International collaborate to create AI-powered mobile utility that visually identifies shark and ray species
• Sharks and rays are in speedy decline. This joint innovation goals to combat a key driver of this decline; illegal wildlife trade

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 8 June 2022 – The Singapore National Parks Board (NParks), Microsoft and Conservation International introduced the launch of Fin Finder, Asia’s first mobile utility that employs synthetic intelligence (AI) to visually establish illegally traded shark and ray species.

Through the tripartite collaboration, the mobile app was created by a Singapore-led crew from Conservation International in session with NParks with assist from the Microsoft AI for Earth program. The app will likely be utilized by officers from the Singapore National Parks Board to combat illegal wildlife trade.

According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II[1], there are roughly 1,000 species of sharks and rays on the planet, of which over 30 species are listed below CITES Appendix II for regulated trade. In Singapore, greater than 160,000 kilograms of fins from CITES-listed sharks and rays have entered the borders between 2012 and 2020[2]. The present course of requires officers to acquire the fins from every cargo for DNA testing to decide its species. This takes a median of up to one week.

Fin Finder optimizes this course of by permitting officers to take photographs of fins that will likely be matched towards a database of over 15,000 shark and ray fin photographs through an AI-driven algorithm within the app. In a matter of seconds, the AI-powered app which runs on Microsoft Azure will rapidly and precisely present a visible identification of shark and ray species onsite and empower officers to rapidly flag suspicious fin shipments for additional DNA testing to cease the illegal trade of shark and ray fins.

Dhanushri Munasinghe, Project Coordinator, Conservation International Singapore stated, “Sharks and rays play an important role in maintaining marine ecosystems by keeping other fish populations in check. If stripped from our oceans, there would be dire consequences for ocean health, which would affect us, and our food security. As one of the world’s most significant transhipment hubs, Singapore is well positioned to combat illegal wildlife trade. Conservation International, supported by Microsoft and other partners, is excited to support Singapore and the Singapore National Parks Board’s leadership in conservation through the creation of Fin Finder”.

Dr Adrian Loo, Group Director of Wildlife Management, NParks, stated: “When wildlife species are traded illegally, the consequences are far-reaching to many ecosystems, economies and communities around the world. By using advanced technology in the creation of Fin Finder, we can strengthen the enforcement against the illegal trade of sharks and ray species following CITES regulation, and boost Singapore’s capabilities in conserving precious biodiversity. The collaboration with Microsoft and Conservation International also reinforce the importance of collective efforts among the public and private sector in combating illegal wildlife trade.”

Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES, stated: “The first step in ensuring international trade complies with CITES regulations comes with the, sometimes difficult, process of identifying the species being traded. Fin Finder is a welcome and innovative addition in the identification of fins and will complement other tools such as iSharkFin. It will give customs and enforcement officers an easy-to-use tool that will contribute to an international trade in CITES-listed species that remains legal, traceable, and sustainable.”

Beyond identification of illegally traded shark and ray fins, officers from the Singapore National Parks Board can even use Fin Finder as a single-platform listing of related shark and ray species. The app additionally gives onsite entry to reference supplies that can be utilized for validation of CITES-approved permits or delivery paperwork. This function is predicted to scale back the time and effort spent to on cargo validation, enabling officers to assist put a cease to illegal wildlife trade extra rapidly.

Fin Finder, a fancy AI and cloud based mostly mobile utility that runs on Microsoft Azure, was created in simply 9 months to deal with a urgent want. The challenge was led by a Singapore-based crew that was supported by a extremely collaborative consortium of world consultants in conservation and expertise, with assets, knowledge, and volunteer contributions from Microsoft, Conservation International, the Singapore National Parks Board, Sineurope Pte Ltd, Rumah Foundation, Coastal Natives and Wild Me.

Richard Koh, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Singapore, shared, “AI has the potential to solve critical environmental challenges. By taking AI tools out of the lab and putting it into the hands of experts in the field, we can accelerate new solutions for a better world. That’s why we are proud to support Fin Finder as it protects global shark and ray populations and preserves our ocean life. By conserving wildlife with help from technology, future generations can enjoy our natural world, as we empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

Fin Finder is a challenge in Microsoft AI for Earth, a worldwide program that helps organizations making use of accountable AI and cloud computing to deal with crucial environmental points. The program is a part of Microsoft’s AI for Good initiative, which goals to clear up the world’s most difficult issues, from local weather change to agriculture, biodiversity and water. To date, AI for Earth has awarded 138 grants to individuals and companies in additional than 45 nations globally.

Learn extra about Fin Finder right here and right here.

Notes to Editor:
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a world settlement that regulates the worldwide trade of untamed animals and vegetation to be certain that it doesn’t threaten their survival.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) allows digital transformation for the period of an clever cloud and an clever edge. Its mission is to empower each particular person and each group on the planet to obtain extra.

#Microsoft

About the National Parks Board

The National Parks Board (NParks) is accountable for enhancing and managing the city ecosystems of our City in Nature. We are the lead company for greenery, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife and animal well being, welfare and administration. We are additionally working intently with the group to improve the standard of our residing setting.

NParks manages some 400 parks, 3,347 hectares of nature reserves, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Pulau Ubin and the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. Adding to that is the intensive community of Nature Ways, and the over 300 km Park Connector Network that hyperlinks main parks, nature areas and residential estates island huge. Every 12 months, we run over 3,500 academic and outreach programmes throughout our varied inexperienced areas.

NParks has developed an city biodiversity conservation mannequin, which goals to preserve consultant ecosystems in land-scarce Singapore. NParks additionally displays and coordinates measures to improve the presence of biodiversity in our city panorama.

NParks is working intently with companions within the panorama, horticulture, veterinary and animal sectors to improve productiveness, and present coaching for all ranges of the workforce. Enhancing competencies of the trade will assist Singapore’s imaginative and prescient of being a City in Nature.

For extra data, go to www.nparks.gov.sg and www.fb.com/nparksbuzz

About Conservation International

Conservation International protects nature for the good thing about humanity. Through science, coverage, fieldwork, and finance, we highlight and safe an important locations in nature for the local weather, for biodiversity and for individuals. With places of work in 30 nations and tasks in additional than 100 nations, Conservation International companions with governments, corporations, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and native communities to assist individuals and nature thrive collectively.

In Singapore, Conservation International is a registered charity authorized by the Commissioner of Charities bearing Institute of Public Character (IPC) standing. Go to Conservation.org for extra, and comply with our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTookay, Instagram and YouTube.

#ConservationInternational

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