| Grantee | University of Tasmania Foundation USA ↗ |
| Location | Australia, New Zealand |
| Grant Amount | $25,000 |
| Duration | 18 months |
| Type of Grant | Small |
Gulper sharks are the most threatened deepwater sharks, yet they remain difficult to protect because of demand for their high-value liver oil – used in cosmetics and health supplements – and is nearly impossible to identify by species once processed for trade. This makes it challenging for customs officers to detect illegal or unsustainable products at the border.
This project will develop a fast, practical tool to identify gulper shark products in international trade using a scanning technology already used by border agencies worldwide. By creating a unique chemical "fingerprint" for gulper shark species, we will give enforcement officers the means to rapidly determine what they are looking at, helping to ensure that trade is legal, sustainable, and traceable, and ultimately reducing the pressure on these vulnerable sharks.