On April 26, a shipment arrived at Ezeiza Airport near Buenos Aires carrying hundreds of dead and dying marine creatures—fish, octopuses, crabs—destined for the black market as ornamental pets. At Fundación Temaikèn, Argentina’s leading conservation center, staff scrambled to install 10 emergency tanks to save the survivors. It was the third major marine wildlife seizure at the same airport in just one year, a stark signal of a rising, hidden crisis. Marine wildlife trafficking, long overshadowed by attention on elephants, rhinos, and tigers, is now surging through global air routes, fueled by demand for luxury foods, traditional medicine, and exotic aquariums. But a new AI-powered tool offers hope. Researchers led by marine biologist Vanessa Pirotta at Macquarie University in Australia have developed the first artificial intelligence algorithm trained specifically to detect trafficked marine species in 3D X-ray scans. In their study, the system identified shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers with accuracy rates between 86% and 96%, marking a breakthrough in frontline detection. The technology works by recognizing the unique 3D shapes of these animals—even when dried or packed in luggage—offering customs officials a powerful new ally. “As it stands, our methods of detecting something that shouldn’t be in our bags on the front line is reliant on human inspection and biosecurity dogs,” Pirotta told Mongabay. “AI could be used to complement that. It’s not a silver bullet, but an assistant and a tool.” The innovation builds on a 2022 study by the same team, which focused on terrestrial species. Now, with marine trafficking on the rise, the timing is critical. Interpol’s Operation Thunder reported 91,000 pieces of marine life seized in 2025—nearly double the combined total of reptiles, birds, and primates. Yet enforcement remains hampered by limited access to 3D X-ray machines and the difficulty of distinguishing between similar species. Experts like Michelle Anagnostou from the University of Oxford stress that technology alone won’t end the trade. “We’ve been arresting people for decades and it hasn’t gotten us very far,” she said. Real progress requires systemic change: stronger enforcement funding, public education, and tackling corruption and poverty in source regions. Still, the AI tool represents a vital step forward—not just in catching smugglers, but in making the invisible visible. As marine biologist Sarah Foster from the University of British Columbia notes, the ocean’s plight often goes unseen. This new technology ensures that, at least at airport checkpoints, it won’t go unnoticed much longer.