Development of an iphone Application for Collecting Fisheries Data with Visual Recognition Component

Applications for handheld devices that allow anglers to collect basic information on recreational catch are becoming increasingly common. Since 2010, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has offered such an application as a free download to anglers to allow them to track their personal catches. In 2012, IGFA began redeveloping this app to provide more robust information for applied fishery management purposes.  A unique feature of this will be a “visual recognition” component, developed by computer scientists at Columbia University, which will help anglers identify a fish from its iPhone photograph. Researchers at Columbia have pioneered similar visual recognition systems for plants through projects like “Leafsnap.” While the data collected will be designed to feed into specific fisheries research and management efforts, an “anglers log” aspect will allow users to store details of their catches for their own use or to share with others if they so desire.