BLOG: Will smart phones become essential in fishing?

I HAVE to admit that when I first began fishing in Australia I felt somewhat under-gunned on the technology front. I seemed to be the only one aboard without a handheld GPS or smart phone of some description. When my Blackberry contract was up I immediately upgraded to the latest iPhone and all was good. Shame I'm back in England though as we don't really need a GPS to track down those tiny roach and the carp usually show themselves without any need for electronics !

However, some news from the USA caught my eye the other day and got me thinking that it won't be long before smartphones are considered as essential by fishos as rods and reels. Here's whats happening in California according to the snappily titled US magazine Government Technology....

When venturing into the waters along California's 1,100 miles of coastline, at times it can be difficult to determine which areas are protected — where fishing and other recreational activities are restricted or limited.
Now outdoorsmen who carry a mobile device can access a searchable Department of Fish and Game website that maps the locations of the marine protected areas (MPAs).

"In general, whether you're a hunter or a fisher or anything else, you should be pretty well aware of where you plan to go and what the regulations are that apply for the species you're trying to take before you ever step out the door," said Eric Miller, a department staff programmer analyst.

But those who aren't up to speed, the new website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/m/MPA has been optimised for iPhone, iPad and Android.

The site allows fishermen, divers, ocean goers and the general public to search for current MPAs by name, county or general area. Officials said the site will be updated if and when new MPAs go into effect.

Through an interactive map, users can locate an MPA and find information about its boundaries and regulations. According to the department, some MPAs prohibit fishing or collecting of any kind — so the mobile site might help users avoid those mistakes.

"One of the cooler features of this website is that you can actually get your location and then see where you are on a map and then see if you are in an MPA, or if any MPAs are around you," said Aaron Del Monte, a department staff programmer analyst.

For best results, the Department of Fish and Game recommends that the phone's GPS feature is turned on.

Users who access the site out in the open ocean can track their current location through the site's map function, with the mobile device's GPS supporting the mobile site.

With the ongoing rows over the zealous enforcement of the Great Lakes Marine Park boundaries off Port Stephens in NSW and the subsequent arguments in court, I can't help thinking that such an iPhone app could solve an awful lot of problems. Alternatively, the government could allow managed recreational fishing in these areas and we could all live happily ever after.

Alabama's Text-a-Tip Program

California isn't the first US state to cover its protected coastline with a mobile application. Last year the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources launched a text-a-tip program to allow the public to report saltwater fishing violators to the department via text messaging.

Launched by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division in mid-November, the program enables cell phone users to text "coastwatch" to the number 847411 to report saltwater fishing violations. People who witness saltwater fishing violations are encouraged to provide as much information as possible about the violators, such as the name and description of the suspects, a vehicle or boat description, license plate number, boat registration number, time of observation and the area where the violation occurred, according to the Marine Resources Division.

"The biggest hope we have is that it gets us more information of violations than we have," said Maj. Chris Blankenship, chief enforcement officer and acting director of the Marine Resources Division. "We're trying to make it as easy for the public to provide us as much helpful information as possible."

The program uses the tip411 tool developed by web-based solutions vendor CitizenObserver. When someone sends a text message to report a violation, tip411 removes identifying information, so the texter can remain anonymous. Once the ADCNR receives the tip, it can take proper action to crack down on the saltwater fishing violators, Blankenship said.

Some coastal areas make it difficult to speak on the phone since getting a cell signal can be tricky, but people are still able to text in poor-signal areas, he said. It will be beneficial to the ADCNR if people send text tips as soon as they get cell phone service while out in the water.

Blankenship said before the text program launched, Alabama had for the last 10 years (and still has) a 24-hour telephone tip line to report violations. However, some people are reluctant to give their name or may be afraid someone might find out that they reported the violation.

According to the Marine Resources Division, some of Alabama's saltwater fishing violations include illegal netting; violations of fish size and limits; shrimp and oystering in closed waters; and closed-season fishing.

During my time fishing the rocks and jetties around Sydney I couldn't help noticing that some groups of anglers, and not just Asians, seemed to regard bag and size limits as optional rather than compulsory. Anything that makes it easier to report violations of the rules the rest of us are happy to abide by must be a good thing - assuming, of course, that there's a Fisheries Enforcement Officer around to respond and they've all not been moved to Nowra!