Scientists Pool Resources To Look At Illegal Fishing Impact On Sharks

October 10, 2006

Release from: ABC News Online

The impact of illegal fishing upon sharks in north Australian waters is being studied, as part of a new research collaboration.

Marine scientists are pooling resources at Darwin's Arafura Timor Research Facility which has cost $3.5 million to build.

Chief executive officer Stuart Fitch says the laboratories allow advanced genetic fingerprinting of marine material, including seized shark fin.

"This is a genetic sequencing analyser or as most people would probably understand it from CSI on TV, DNA analysis," he said.

"We don't do any police work but anything organic can be done in ensuring that this type of science stays in the NT rather than going south [where] you sometimes have to wait six months for the analysis to be done."