Smartphones Reveal Angler Behavior: A Case Study of a Popular Mobile Fishing Application in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Teléfonos inteligentes revelan comportamiento de pescadores: el caso de estudio en Alberta, Canadá, de una aplicación para teléfono móvil El manejo exitoso de las pesquerías y el control de la dispersión de especies invasivas depende de la habilidad para describir y predecir el comportamiento de los pescadores. Sin embargo, la limitación de recursos restringe el uso de muestreos convencionales y tiende a producir datos históricos incompletos en tiempo y espacio, y se fundamenta en intenciones o actitudes más que en el comportamiento real de los pescadores. En este trabajo se utilizan tres años de datos sobre pescadores obtenidos mediante una aplicación para teléfonos móviles en Alberta, Canadá, para determinar, a nivel provincie, los patrones estacionales de: 1) popularidad del lago de acuerdo a los datos convencionales, y 2) conectividad antropogénica del lago que no ha sido ampliamente descrita en Norteamérica. El análisis para poner a prueba el concepto mostró que las aplicaciones para teléfono celular pueden representar una fuente de datos barata, de alta resolución y que opera en tiempo real para manejo de pesquerías y de especies invasivas. También se identificaron retos clave que resaltan la necesidad de realizar investigación en el futuro y desarrollar información acerca de esta nueva frontera tecnológica que combina grandes cantidades de datos y mayor interés y cooperación por parte de los inversionistas. Successfully managing fisheries and controlling the spread of invasive species depends on the ability to describe and predict angler behavior. However, finite resources restrict conventional survey approaches and tend to produce retrospective data that are limited in time or space and rely on intentions or attitudes rather than actual behavior. In this study, we used three years of angler data from a popular mobile fishing application in Alberta, Canada, to determine province-wide, seasonal patterns of (1) lake popularity that were consistent with conventional data and (2) anthropogenic lake connectivity that has not been widely described in North America. Our proof-of-concept analyses showed that mobile apps can be an inexpensive source of high-resolution, real-time data for managing fisheries and invasive species. We also identified key challenges that underscore the need for further research and development in this new frontier that combines big data with increased stakeholder interaction and cooperation.

Angler apps as a source of recreational fisheries data: opportunities, challenges and proposed standards

“…These devices are also becoming ubiquitous: smartphone users are predicted to number 6.1 billion (70% of the projected global population) by 2020, with developed markets nearing saturation (Ericsson 2015). Papenfuss et al 2015). We anticipate a proliferation of such apps given their rising profile in fisheries (Gutowsky et al 2013;Papenfuss et al 2015;Cooke et al 2016;Lorenzen et al 2016), and as part of a larger trend towards smartphonebased citizen science (Newman et al 2012).…”

“…Smartphones and tablets are portable, and can capture, store and upload large amounts of data. We anticipate a proliferation of such apps given their rising profile in fisheries (Gutowsky et al 2013;Papenfuss et al 2015;Cooke et al 2016;Lorenzen et al 2016), and as part of a larger trend towards smartphonebased citizen science (Newman et al 2012). The fact that many anglers are interacting with the resource while carrying a data collection device has inspired the development of smartphone applications (henceforth 'apps') that generate data in support of marine and freshwater fisheries management (Table 1).…”

Shark recreational fisheries: Status, challenges, and research needs

“…Creel surveys (on water/beach or implemented at harbors), angler diaries, and log books and charter boat logs represent wellestablished tools that have much promise for addressing some of the aforementioned knowledge gaps (Pollock et al 1994). New developments in smart phone apps that enable anglers to self-report their fishing activities in ''real time'' (see Papenfuss et al 2015) might provide opportunities for generating these data. Social science surveys (see human dimension research below) can also be used to solicit information on effort, catch, and harvest as recently did with charter boat captains in Florida.…”

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

“…It can also provide finer resolution information. The widespread use of smartphones (and apps) is an important emerging platform for recreational fishing data collection that will almost certainly grow in utility and importance [60,61]. Perhaps the best known example of citizen science within fisheries research are sportfish tagging programs which have a relatively long history and have facilitated substantial gains in knowledge of key species [62][63][64][65].…”