iSharkFin is an expert system that uses machine learning techniques to identify shark species from shark fin shapes. The software was developed by FAO in collaboration with the University of Vigo with financial support from the Government of Japan and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Aimed at port inspectors, custom agents, fish traders and other users without formal taxonomic training, iSharkFin allows the identification of shark species from a picture of the fin.

The iSharkFin takes an interactive process.  Users only need to take a standard photo, select some characteristics of a fin and choose a few points on the fin shape, iSharkFin will automatically analyze the information and tell you the shark specie from which the fin comes.

A first version of iSharkFin is now available for the identification of 35 shark species from dorsal fins and 7 species from pectoral fins, commonly seen in international trade, including some species listed in the CITES Appendices. Future releases will include the capability of identifying all the main shark species in trade.

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