Free Android App Designed to Encourage the Release of Mako Sharks

Last week, the NOAA Fisheries’ Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division released a new app for Android phones that allows recreational anglers to share information about catching and releasing shortfin mako sharks.

At the time of capture, fisherman fill in the required fields and the app does the rest, using the device’s built-in GPS, when available, to fill in location coordinates. The catch and release reports submitted via email allow fishermen to put their mako quite literally on the map.

Commercial pelagic longliners targeting swordfish and tuna catch shortfin mako shark as bycatch in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Recreational fishermen also catch makos as bycatch and for sport. This combined fishing effort has resulted in the shortfin mako being classified as ‘experiencing overfishing’ by NOAA.

To download the app, you can visit the Android Market. To view the map of releases, click here.