IT has been a long-time coming but the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) has launched a fish identification application designed especially for the South African marine angler and fish enthusiast.
Dr Bruce Mann, a senior scientist at ORI with more than 30 years of experience, played an important role in the development of the app which offers information, distribution maps, and current regulations for 249 of the most common fish species caught along the South African coast.
The app (Marine Fish Guide for Southern Africa App) which has been in development for the last two years is available on both Android and iPhone and costs R200.
All profits from the sale of the app will go towards the ORI Cooperative Fish Tagging Project.
“As a recreational angler and scientist this has been a labour of love and has taken around two years working in conjunction with developers to perfect this app. I’ve compiled a list of 249 species most commonly caught on the Southern African coast as they make up 99 per cent of the line fishing catch. The great thing with the app is it is user-friendly and we are able to update it with information should regulations change or to include new species to the list.
“We made this app because of our passion for South Africa’s linefish. It is based on linefish research undertaken in South Africa over the last 50 years and includes the most recent information available. Each species profile was carefully researched and then written so that the information is accessible and easy to understand. My hope is that anglers will enjoy using the app to learn more about the fish they catch providing information and raising awareness all the while helping our research here at ORI,” he said.
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