iSnapper v1
iSnapper is a research tool developed by the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi.
One of the most difficult aspects of fisheries management is collection of high quality fisheries-dependent data in a timely manner that allows for the implementation of in-season adaptive management strategies. For commercial fisheries, this is mitigated through the use of logbooks and real-time estimation by port officials/observers. These data are often used to make decisions pertaining to the entire fishery, although sometimes they may not best represent what is actually occurring in the fishery.
The problem is that traditional logbooks are time consuming, have an associated time lag, and have implementation issues. The alternative is electronic logbooks that allow daily or timely upload of catch data. However, there is no software that meets the needs of the managers while addressing concerns of fishermen, of which both are required to produce the highest quality data possible.
The main objective of this study was to develop an affordable, highly adaptable, simple to use, and portable application for “smart phones” that functions as an electronic logbook in the Gulf of Mexico recreational for-hire fisheries. Recently, we developed an “app” for iPhone and iPad called “iSnapper”. This app was designed for offshore charter boat captains to instantly upload catch data to our research databases.