Almost all the species living on this planet are being seriously threatened by climate change and pollution. Among the most affected ones are marine creatures, many of whom have already become endangered species.
Because of that, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service came up with a wonderful idea of launching an application that can help anglers detect which types of fish are endangered species.
The authorities have set a partnership with FishBrain, which is a Swedish company known for having developed an application that gives indications to anglers in terms of water quality, wind direction and weather.
This application is going to be updated and include information regarding the species of fish the angler is dealing with and the marine creatures that are considered endangered or threatened species.
Users will be able to report whenever they catch sight of a marine creature that belongs to these categories and update information about up to 50 threatened species. This will help researchers and conservationists identify their habitat and find out more about them.
“Anglers are extremely important to protecting and maintaining healthy aquatic habitats. This is a unique opportunity to synthesize recreational anglers’ information and knowledge in local waterways and expand our understanding of various species,” said assistant director for Ecological Services Program of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Gary Frazer.
He also spoke about the fact that conservation can only be achieved through education and engagement, this is why a partnership with Fish Brain is seen as such a positive thing.
The agency also issued a list with the species that might be at risk. These include the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, the whooping crane, the California red-legged frog, and the short-nose sturgeon.
The final list will include not only aquatic animals, but also birds, amphibians, reptiles and large mammals. This means that hunters could also help out by using this new app.
The aim is to help preserve these species and protect them as much as possible. The agency also teamed up with public and private organizations that will help implement voluntary conservation efforts. This will have a positive impact on the at-risk species, as they will improve their status by removing many of their threats.
The application will be easy to use during various fishing trips that anglers make anyway, so there is almost no effort involved. Moreover, it is completely free and will soon become available for download.
Image Source: northzone