The Clean Catch self-reporting mobile app is for use by any fisherman in the UK who wants to record data on catch, bycatch events, and other interactions between sensitive species and fishing gear. It is designed to be used easily at sea alongside fishing activities and has been developed collaboratively with the fishing industry.
Fishermen can use the app to:
- Record incidences of bycatch of sensitive marine species (including seabirds, marine mammals, turtles, sharks, skates, and rays).
- Record other interactions between sensitive species and fishing gear, for example seals entering nets.
- Record catch data.
- View, in real-time, interactive maps showing hotspots of catch and bycatch from their own fishing.
How to get the app
The Clean Catch self-reporting mobile app is available and free to download on Apple and Android devices by searching ‘Clean Catch AST’ on app stores. To start using the app, you will need to enter a personal activation code.
To receive your code:
- Click on ‘Click here to register’ on the login page of the app.
- You will be directed to the Clean Catch portal web page where you will be asked to provide your contact and vessel details, so that Cefas can verify your vessel details. In the field ‘Select a Group*’, select the option ‘Wildlife Bycatch (all fisheries)’.
- Within five working days of submitting your details, you should receive an email containing your own personal activation code to start using the app.
All personal data collected from the app is protected under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation. You can read the privacy policy of the Clean Catch self-reporting mobile app here.
Background to the app
Historically, gathering information on sensitive species bycatch has been challenging due to a lack of monitoring and the rarity of these events for individual fishermen. Data on bycatch events or interactions between sensitive species and fishing gear is key to developing effective and feasible mitigation strategies.
To improve collection of this data, and as part of the Clean Catch programme, Cefas and Applied Solutions Technology (AST) created the Clean Catch self-reporting mobile app. Throughout the development process, fishermen from around the UK provided critical input on ease of use, the clarity of information requested, and the appropriateness of the app for different fishing gears.
The valuable information collected by fishermen will contribute to ongoing work by Clean Catch to better understand sensitive species bycatch, including where and when bycatch is most likely to occur, and which species are most susceptible.
The app is also being used by fishermen involved in Clean Catch’s cetacean bycatch mitigation trial in the Southwest of England, allowing them to record information on catches and any bycatch events which may occur whilst fishing with and without pingers.. Find out more about the Clean Catch mitigation trial here.