FAO launches software to protect endangered sharks – EBC

Created 02/19/15 17h39 and updated in 02/19/15 17:45 For
Monica Villela Grayley Source: of UN Radio in New York

In a statement, the United Nations Food and Agriculture, FAO, said the iSharkFin software, in translation free shark fins, will be used to quickly identify the species of marine fish in order to prevent illegal trade.

With this, the FAO aims to help curb the crime committed against protected species and to combat trafficking illegal fins. The application can be used by customs officials, fish markets inspectors and fishermen, as explained Monica Barone, who heads the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture team, responsible for the software.

According to FAO, the application provides a photo so that the user can choose various parts of the shark fin shape, and can identify other characteristics of the fish. Moreover, an algorithm compares the received information to that contained in the database to recognize the species. The UN agency reports that the whole process takes no more than five minutes.

capacity

An application for tablets and smart phones is being developed to increase the usability and scope of software . To date, the iSharkFin is to identify 35 species from the dorsal fins, one positioned on top of the animal’s spine, seven other located below the shark fins.

Many are the types most internationally traded . One of the difficulties of application of the organizers is to list all the fins, since some of them are becoming increasingly more rare.
According to a study cited by the FAO, the number of sharks killed each year can reach 73 million, or more than 6% of the total marine fish stock.

Spain and Japan

The death of the animals is made for the fins then throwing the shark lifeless to the sea. The software was developed by FAO in partnership with the University of Vigo, Spain, and received funding from the Government of Japan. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Wild Fauna, CITES also helped fund the project.

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