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

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Singapore Nationwide Parks Board, Microsoft and Conservation Worldwide collaborate to create AI-powered cell software that visually identifies shark and ray species
Sharks and rays are in fast decline. This joint innovation goals to fight a key driver of this decline; unlawful wildlife commerce

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

Shark fin species detection by Fin Finder. The rapid identification of shark and ray species will help officers to quickly flag suspicious fin shipments for further DNA testing, and combat illegally traded shark and ray fins. Photo by: Microsoft, Conservation International and the Singapore National Parks Board — Shark fin species detection by Fin Finder. The fast identification of shark and ray species will assist officers to rapidly flag suspicious fin shipments for additional DNA testing, and fight illegally traded shark and ray fins.

*Picture by: Microsoft, Conservation Worldwide and the Singapore Nationwide Parks Board*

By means of the tripartite collaboration, the cell app was created by a Singapore-led staff from Conservation Worldwide in session with NParks with help from the Microsoft AI for Earth program. The app can be utilized by officers from the Singapore Nationwide Parks Board to fight unlawful wildlife commerce.

In keeping with the Conference on Worldwide Commerce 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 commerce. 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 gather the fins from every cargo for DNA testing to find out its species. This takes a median of as much as one week.

Fin Finder optimizes this course of by permitting officers to take photographs of fins that can be matched in opposition to a database of over 15,000 shark and ray fin photos 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 unlawful commerce of shark and ray fins.

Dhanushri Munasinghe, Undertaking Coordinator, Conservation Worldwide Singapore stated, “Sharks and rays play an vital position in sustaining marine ecosystems by holding different fish populations in verify. If stripped from our oceans, there can be dire penalties for ocean well being, which might have an effect on us, and our meals safety. As one of many world’s most vital transhipment hubs, Singapore is nicely positioned to fight unlawful wildlife commerce. Conservation Worldwide, supported by Microsoft and different companions, is happy to help Singapore and the Singapore Nationwide Parks Board’s management in conservation by way of the creation of Fin Finder”.

Dr Adrian Bathroom, Group Director of Wildlife Administration, NParks, stated: “When wildlife species are traded illegally, the implications are far-reaching to many ecosystems, economies and communities world wide. Through the use of superior expertise within the creation of Fin Finder, we are able to strengthen the enforcement in opposition to the unlawful commerce of sharks and ray species following CITES regulation, and increase Singapore’s capabilities in conserving valuable biodiversity. The collaboration with Microsoft and Conservation Worldwide additionally reinforce the significance of collective efforts amongst the private and non-private sector in combating unlawful wildlife commerce.”

Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-Common of CITES, stated: “Step one in making certain worldwide commerce complies with CITES laws comes with the, typically troublesome, means of figuring out the species being traded. Fin Finder is a welcome and progressive addition within the identification of fins and can complement different instruments corresponding to iSharkFin. It’ll give customs and enforcement officers an easy-to-use instrument that can contribute to a world commerce in CITES-listed species that is still authorized, traceable, and sustainable.”

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

Fin Finder, a fancy AI and cloud based mostly cell software that runs on Microsoft Azure, was created in simply 9 months to handle a urgent want. The undertaking was led by a Singapore-based staff that was supported by a extremely collaborative consortium of world specialists in conservation and expertise, with assets, knowledge, and volunteer contributions from Microsoft, Conservation Worldwide, the Singapore Nationwide Parks Board, Sineurope Pte Ltd, Rumah Basis, Coastal Natives and Wild Me.

Richard Koh, Chief Know-how Officer, Microsoft Singapore, shared, “AI has the potential to resolve crucial environmental challenges. By taking AI instruments out of the lab and placing it into the fingers of specialists within the area, we are able to speed up new options for a greater world. That’s why we’re proud to help Fin Finder because it protects international shark and ray populations and preserves our ocean life. By conserving wildlife with assist from expertise, future generations can get pleasure from our pure world, as we empower each individual and each group on the planet to attain extra.”

Fin Finder is a undertaking in Microsoft AI for Earth, a worldwide program that helps organizations making use of accountable AI and cloud computing to handle crucial environmental points. This system is a part of Microsoft’s AI for Good initiative, which goals to resolve the world’s most difficult issues, from local weather change to agriculture, biodiversity and water. So far, AI for Earth has awarded 138 grants to individuals and companies in additional than 45 nations globally.

Study extra about Fin Finder right here and right here.

Notes to Editor:
The Conference on Worldwide Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a world settlement that regulates the worldwide commerce of untamed animals and crops to make sure that it doesn’t threaten their survival.

[1] 39 CITES Appendix II, IUCN Shark Specialist Group Information, Jan 2022 concern, pg. 16

About Microsoft

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

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Concerning the Nationwide Parks Board

The Nationwide Parks Board (NParks) is chargeable for enhancing and managing the city ecosystems of our Metropolis in Nature. We’re the lead company for greenery, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife and animal well being, welfare and administration. We’re additionally working intently with the group to boost the standard of our dwelling atmosphere.

NParks manages some 400 parks, 3,347 hectares of nature reserves, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Pulau Ubin and the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. Including to that is the intensive community of Nature Methods, and the over 300 km Park Connector Community that hyperlinks main parks, nature areas and residential estates island huge. Yearly, we run over 3,500 instructional and outreach programmes throughout our numerous inexperienced areas.

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

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

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

About Conservation Worldwide

Conservation Worldwide protects nature for the advantage of humanity. By means of science, coverage, fieldwork, and finance, we highlight and safe a very powerful locations in nature for the local weather, for biodiversity and for individuals. With workplaces in 30 nations and tasks in additional than 100 nations, Conservation Worldwide companions with governments, firms, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and native communities to assist individuals and nature thrive collectively.

In Singapore, Conservation Worldwide is a registered charity permitted by the Commissioner of Charities bearing Institute of Public Character (IPC) standing. Go to Conservation.org for extra, and observe our work on Conservation Information, Fb, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.