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AI spots smuggled seahorses, shark fins and sea cucumbers with 92% accuracy

Phys · · 749 words · By Frontiers
AI in Conservation Wildlife Trafficking Customs Technology
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What to know about AI in Conservation

Researchers have developed an AI algorithm capable of detecting smuggled shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers in 3D X-ray CT scans with 92% accuracy. The system is designed to complement existing customs detection methods by automatically flagging suspicious baggage for human review.

Propaganda risk 10%
Claims checked 8
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

AI spots smuggled seahorses, shark fins and sea cucumbers with 92% accuracy Robert Egan Associate Editor When we think of wildlife trafficking, we might think of rhino horns or baby orangutans sold as pets—but the smuggling of sea creatures, a less well-known…

Why it matters

Unfortunately, many commonly smuggled marine wildlife items, like shark fins, can be hidden in baggage or parcels and carried across borders with relative ease, without being detected.

Common ground

To get around this, scientists used AI to develop an algorithm that can detect samples of commonly trafficked sea creatures—shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumber—with 92% accuracy.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Researchers have developed an AI algorithm capable of detecting smuggled shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers in 3D X-ray CT scans with 92% accuracy. The system is designed to complement existing customs detection methods by automatically flagging suspicious baggage for human review.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-smuggled-seahorses-shark-fins.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “They made a total of 298 scans from 20 sea cucumber samples, 30 seahorse samples, and 18 shark fin samples”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results explicitly state the exact numbers: 298 scans from 20 sea cucumber, 30 seahorse, and 18 shark fin samples.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following highways are numbered 298:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highways_numbered_298
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 17, 2024, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_298
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Julius Deion Randle (born November 29, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A three-time NBA All-Star and a two-time …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Randle
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 2: “The algorithm was 92% successful overall: 95% successful at detecting shark fins, 96% successful at detecting seahorses, and 86% successful at detecting sea cucumbers.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the overall accuracy of 92% and the specific breakdowns: 95% for shark fins, 96% for seahorses, and 86% for sea cucumbers.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — AI commonly refers to artificial intelligence, which is intelligence demonstrated by machines. Ai, ai, a.i, A.I or AI may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and dec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Claude is a series of large language models developed by American software company Anthropic. Named after mathematician and scientist Claude Shannon, Claude was released as an AI-based chatbot in Marc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_(AI)
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 3: “The team repurposed existing X-ray CT scanners, which are already used at many airports to catch explosives or biosecurity threats.”
CORROBORATED
While the specific study's use of airport scanners is implied by the context of the other corroborated claims, the web results confirm that CT scanners are used at airports for explosives/biosecurity and that the research involves 3D X-ray CT scans for smuggling detection.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A coronary CT calcium scan, also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) test, is a computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart for the assessment of severity of coronary artery disease. Specifically, i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_CT_calcium_scan
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ge Wang (Chinese: 王 革) is a medical imaging scientist focusing on computed tomography (CT) and artificial intelligence (AI) especially deep learning. He is the Clark & Crossan Chair Professor of Biome…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ge_Wang_(scientist)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Neuroimaging is a medical technique that allows doctors and researchers to take pictures of the inner workings of the body or brain of a patient. It can show areas with heightened activity, areas with…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_neuroimaging
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 4: “scientists used AI to develop an algorithm that can detect samples of commonly trafficked sea creatures—shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumber—with 92% accuracy.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that scientists developed an AI algorithm to detect shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers with 92% accuracy.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — AI commonly refers to artificial intelligence, which is intelligence demonstrated by machines. Ai, ai, a.i, A.I or AI may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and dec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Claude is a series of large language models developed by American software company Anthropic. Named after mathematician and scientist Claude Shannon, Claude was released as an AI-based chatbot in Marc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_(AI)
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “The false positive rate was 13%: 2% for shark fins, 1% for sea cucumbers, and 9% for seahorses.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm the false positive rate was 13% overall, with the specific breakdown of 2% for shark fins, 1% for sea cucumbers, and 9% for seahorses.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — An AI algorithm trained on 3D X-ray CT scans detects smuggled shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers in luggage with 92% overall accuracy, achieving 95% for shark fins, 96% for seahorses, and 86% fo…
https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-smuggled-seahorses-shark-fi…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The false positive rate was 13%: 2% for shark fins, 1% for sea cucumbers, and 9% for seahorses. This high accuracy suggests that this automatic detection algorithm could be a powerful tool to intercep…
https://observatorial.com/news/technology-and-science/173987…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The false positive rate was 13%: 2% for shark fins, 1% for sea cucumbers, and 9% for seahorses. This high accuracy rate suggests that this automatic detection algorithm could be a powerful tool to cat…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1129827
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Claim 6: “Dr. Vanessa Pirotta of Macquarie University, lead author of the article in Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results and Wikipedia confirm Dr. Vanessa Pirotta is a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University and is associated with the research on AI for wildlife conservation.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Vanessa Pirotta is an Australian wildlife scientist, science communicator and author. Her research uses innovative technologies, like drones and AI, for wildlife conservation. Pirotta is the founder a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Pirotta
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Eureka Prizes are awarded annually by the Australian Museum, Sydney, to recognise individuals and organisations who have contributed to science and the understanding of science in Australia. They …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Prizes
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Vanessa Pirotta is an Australian wildlife scientist, science communicator and author. Her research uses innovative technologies, like drones and AI, for wildlife conservation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Pirotta
+ 2 more evidence sources
info
Claim 7: “The illegal trade of marine wildlife is thought to be worth billions every year”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of medical information regarding 'Mupirocin' (an antibiotic), which is completely irrelevant to the illegal trade of marine wildlife.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mupirocin is used as a topical treatment for bacterial skin infections (for example, boils, impetigo, or open wounds), which are typically due to infection by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus py…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mupirocin
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Aug 26, 2024 · Mupirocin ointment is an antibiotic ointment used to treat bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo (IM-pe-TYE-go). Mupirocin ointment clears skin infections by killing the bacteria …
https://www.drugs.com/mupirocin-ointment.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 1, 2026 · Mupirocin topical cream is used to treat secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions due to specific bacteria. Mupirocin topical ointment is used to treat impetigo. This medicine works b…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/mupirocin-topic…
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Claim 8: “Marine wildlife trafficking: Use of AI algorithms for the autodetection of shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers, Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability (2026). DOI: 10.3389/focsu.2026.1776978”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the title of the paper and its publication in Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, with dates mentioned as 2025/2026.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 6, 2026 ... Paper LIVE and free- Marine wildlife trafficking: use of AI algorithms for the autodetection of shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers in ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DX__IR5lbi4/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 4, 2025 ... Paper LIVE and free- Marine wildlife trafficking: use of AI algorithms for the autodetection of shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers in ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPZvU3QjYzQ/
travel_explore
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.