Do people really still kill sea turtles and whales?
In a word, yes. Despite laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, as well as rising concern about depletion of ocean resources and extinction of ecologically important and charismatic species, some people continue to slaughter these protected species for food, cosmetic, medicinal, and decorative use. The NOS Marine Forensics Lab can use DNA to identify the species of origin of sea turtle and marine mammal products, including meat, eggs, baleen, bone, fur, and even trace evidence like blood stains from a boat deck or spear gun.
