August 27, 2003 — Forensic science is the “application of natural and physical science to the resolution of matters within a legal context.” Therefore, forensic science is concerned with the crime, the suspects, followed by investigation and comparative/analytical analysis of the evidence, culminating in testimony regarding interpretation of analyses in the context of the crime. Although forensics is most often associated with legal issues involving human victims, scientists at the NOAA Marine Forensics Branch have used similar techniques to assist with NOAA fisheries and other related law enforcement issues.

NOAA Marine Forensics Branch
Not only do NOAA Marine Forensics Branch scientists assist the NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement, but they also assists other agencies – including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Customs, and various state fish and wildlife law enforcement agencies. Cases submitted for analyses primarily involve CITES, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, or Lacey Act violations. Emphasis is on protected and managed species, including marine mammals, sharks, tunas, billfish and sea turtles — but all marine species are fair game. Forensic determinations usually involve species identification and cause of death related to human and/or fisheries interactions. Other determinations include differentiation of wild versus cultured game fish, identification of marine oil in consumer products and morphological identification of whole or partial marine animals. Examples of previously reported marine forensic cases include:

• A report of an illegally taken bluefin tuna in the trunk of the car leads law enforcement officials to only a blood-stained carpet.
• Dried shark fins of many shapes and sizes.
• Thousands of sea turtle eggs in suitcases waiting to be picked up by a passenger returning to the U.S. from Central America.
• “Crema de Tortuga”, a Caribbean Turtle Oil Cream said to be “good for sun tan and dry skin”.
• A dead sea turtle lying on the beach with no head or flippers.
• Cans of suspected whale meat brought into the U.S. from Japan.
• Dozens of shark carcasses with head and fins removed, perhaps to hide their true identity.
• Coolers full of mixed fish fillets from a party fishing boat.
• Farm raised fish for sale, or is it a wild protected species.

These are just a few examples of the types of threats managed and protected marine species may face each day throughout the United States.

MFB scientists at the NOAA Ocean Service’s Forensics Branch for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research in Charleston, S.C., are continually challenged by a strange and varied array of evidence seized by law enforcement personnel from around the country. The goals of the center are to:

• Support the NOAA Office of Enforcement’s Mission: ecosystem enforcement in the stewardship of sustaining and restoring the nation’s wealth of living marine resources.
• Provide scientific/technical support to law enforcement in cases associated with marine species.
• Provide scientific/technical support to fisheries and protected species managers.
• Conduct basic research to develop new methodologies to aid in marine forensic identifications.
• Provide investigative support in anomalous mortality events (i.e., marine mammals, sea turtles and fish).
• provide biochemical analyses in response to inquiries to species substitution.

Marine Versus Other Types of Forensics
While most other forensics laboratories focus on a single species (i.e., typically humans), the challenge most often presented to the NOAA/CCEHBR Marine Forensics Branch scientists is that of “species determination.” Other routine determinations include cause of death related to human and/or fishery interactions, differentiation of wild versus cultured game fish and identification of marine oils in consumer products. Routine forensic examinations include species identifications of whole animals or more commonly pieces and parts of animals, including trace evidence such as drops of blood. Most marine forensic cases involve illegal take or trade of managed or protected species, so a majority of the evidence is in the form of raw meat (but other samples such as blood, eggs, fins or products may also be analyzed). Examples of the types of evidence most often analyzed in different species include the following.

• Sea turtles: eggs, meats, blood, cosmetics and oils
• Fish: raw meat, fins, blood stains, eggs and larvae
• Marine Mammals: meats, blood and blood stains, skin, cosmetics and oils

Sophisticated techniques are used to match protein, lipid and DNA patterns of unknown samples to those of authentic “voucher” standards. MFB scientists maintain an extensive archive of fully documented forensic comparison standards totaling more than 10,000 samples from 250 different marine species, including marine reptiles, mammals and fish. In fact, the Marine Forensics Branch maintains an entire “library” of authenticated voucher samples for each of the analytical methods used to resolve legal issues. Collection of the standards from whole animals by authorized experts is conducted on a continual basis. The expert also provides signed documentation verifying the species. This form, along with other legal documents, must accompany the sample and be delivered with the standard to the Marine Forensics Archive — ensuring that no tampering has occurred.

Legal Actions
Following physical, chemical and/or biological examination of the evidence, MFB scientists provide critical information to law enforcement and legal personnel to be used in prosecution of civil and criminal cases involving marine resources. MFB’s forensic analysts are qualified to provide expert witness testimony regarding the science behind their evidence examinations. They also work closely with law enforcement personnel to anticipate potential issues as laws change.

History of the NOAA Marine Forensics Branch
The NOAA MFB within CCEHBR is part of the NOAA Ocean Service’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, a group of research centers that support NOAA’s coastal management responsibilities. Marine forensic activities began at the NMFS SEFSC Charleston Laboratory in the late 1970s, when staff were first asked to provide scientific assistance to law enforcement. At that time, the forensics work was carried out by a few ad-hoc scientists whose main duties lay in other areas, but who had expertise that could be applied to specific forensic problems. For example, marine lipid chemistry research was adapted to species identification of sea turtle eggs and detection of marine oils in cosmetic products. Population genetic studies on sea turtles, sharks and tunas were also extended to develop DNA based species identification methods for those species groups.

In the early 1980s, the staff participated in studies to validate isoelectric focusing of soluble muscle proteins for species identification and further enhanced the analysis by using specific enzyme staining as a confirmation. IEF was, however, not amendable to the identification of species of sea turtle eggs, cosmetics or oils. This led to the development of another method for species identification using fatty acid profiling. Requests to identify species not resolved by IEF and for evidence other than fresh meats — such as blood and cooked meats — have led to directed research into the development of DNA techniques in the '90s.

In 1997, the Marine Forensics Program along with the rest of the Charleston Laboratory was legislatively moved to the NOAA Ocean Service, becoming the MFB of the CCEHBR. Today, the branch has grown to eight full-time staff, including protein/DNA analysts, lipid analysts, technicians and evidence handlers/archivists with occasional analytical assistance from individuals in other CCEHBR Branches (i.e., Marine Biotechnology, Marine Biotoxins, Marine Ecotoxicology, and Marine Mammals and Protected Species). The MFB scientists conducting forensic analyses today are very familiar with and practice forensic procedures, experienced with the methods used for species identification, understanding issues of cross-contamination and expect to be subpoenaed to testify in support of the evidence or opinion they produce.

Today, the original shared laboratory space has grown into a 3,000 square foot lab and office complex. The facility includes state-of-the-art security with computerized card access system, monitored intrusion alarms and video surveillance required to maintain security in all phases of evidence handling. Other facility features include:

• A secure evidence storage area (dry, refrigerated and frozen),
• Dedicated and secure laboratory space for protein (isoelectric focusing, immunoassay) and DNA analyses (PCR/RFLP, DNA sequencing),
• Necropsy capabilities to investigate unusual mortalities in marine animals, and
• State-of-the-art LIMS system with bar-coding capabilities to track evidence chain-of-custody, automate data collection and prepare reports.

The breadth of expertise and the new state-of-the-art facilities lends itself well to an accredited multi-disciplinary approach to forensic analyses and continuing development of new technologies.

Marine Forensics Branch Research
The MFB also develops new methods and multiple types of analyses to differentiate species based on protein, lipid and DNA differences. The active research program involving Marine Forensics staff, other CCEHBR researchers and various academic labs develops new and/or improved methods as new law enforcement issues arise. For example, CCEHBR’s Environmental Genetics group is currently focusing on the identification of illegally caught snapper by adapting genetic techniques already being used to identify early life history stages of snapper species (i.e., eggs and larvae can be difficult to identify without using genetic analysis techniques).

Marine Forensics is a unique capability within NOAA and serves to protect marine resources by helping to successfully prosecute those who abuse these resources. As more and more marine species come under management and protection, MFB scientists stand ready to help protect them through the use of science and technology.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Marine Forensics Branch

NOAA fisheries

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement

CITES

Endangered Species Act

Magnuson-Stevens Act

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Marine mammals

Sharks

Tunas

Billfish

Sea turtles

NOAA Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research

NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

NOAA National Ocean Service

Media Contact:
Glenda Tyson, NOAA's Ocean Service, (301) 713-3066 ext. 191 or Ben Sherman, NOAA's Ocean Service, (301) 713-3066 ext. 178