By Zara Bending
Publication Date: 2026-06-07 23:31:00
Shark fins on a plane, seahorses in your pocket and sea cucumbers in the mail – these are just a few examples of the illegal trade in sea animals.
This crime can be difficult to uncover. But in a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, we show how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as a complementary detection tool to stop the illegal trade of marine animals at international airports and post offices.
A global crime
Cross-border trade in live animals, animal parts or products is a global crime that enables the flow of billions of dollars in illegal money every year. It is known to converge with other criminal activities, including drug, weapons and human trafficking.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identifies five sources of demand for the wildlife trade: food, medicine, pets and ornamentals, specialty collections and jewelry.
In some cases, such as the prestige of pets, people are motivated by both the desire to…
