Forensic Science and Fisheries Crimes: Beyond CSI

In a time of expanded worldwide wildlife trafficking, wildlife crimes have increasingly become the focus of law enforcement on both national and international levels.  Included among the various wildlife offenses is a diverse array of fisheries crimes that violate State, Federal, or international laws and treaties. These crimes may range from simple sport fishing overlimit violations to violations of laws that protect endangered fishes, to the involvement of organized crime in black market trafficking of caviar and fish parts.  Proving that criminal violations have occurred requires the coordinated efforts of wildlife law enforcement agents, prosecuting attorneys familiar with natural resource laws, and wildlife forensic scientists. Scientific testing and expert testimony is often requested by the courts for wildlife crime prosecutions to determine species identity of an evidence item or to establish a link between the evidence, the crime scene, and a suspect.  The discussion will include an overview of fisheries crimes and illustrate the unique role of forensic science in fisheries crime investigations; case studies of fisheries crimes and their potential impact on the resource will also be presented.