Community Science to Power the Future of Fisheries Conservation
onWater Fish, Trout Unlimited, USGS, and Conservation X Labs (previously WildMe) are officially launching TroutSpotter, a groundbreaking program that uses artificial intelligence to transform how anglers contribute to fisheries science and conservation.
Empowering Everyday Anglers
For the first time, a recreational fishing technology platform is empowering everyday anglers to support trout fisheries by responsibly snapping a photo while on the water.
By submitting journal entries to the TroutSpotter program, anglers help train the TroutSpotter machine learning model, which identifies individual trout and collects critical data to advance research, conservation, and habitat protection. This effort not only strengthens app users' fishing knowledge by way of in-depth journal insights, but it also has the potential to fuel large-scale conservation science.
TroutSpotter brings together expertise across technology, science, and conservation:
onWater Fish bridges anglers and science, creating mobile tools that empower smarter fishing and stronger fisheries,.
Trout Unlimited provides leadership in conservation, science and angler engagement.
USGS applies scientific rigor to fisheries research and ecological monitoring.
Conservation X Labs (previously WildMe) contributes advanced machine-learning and AI expertise for species recognition.
How Fish Sampling Works Today
Today, most fisheries scientists use electrofishing to sample fish populations. This allows them to better understand species abundance, population density and composition in water bodies across the country.
While effective, electrofishing has its limitations: it can sometimes injure or kill fish, and larger fish are more likely to be harmed in the process. Because of these risks and the resources required to individually tag each fish, sampling is usually conducted just once a year. Since older fish are more susceptible to shocks, tracking younger fish populations accurately can be a real challenge.
Supplementing existing methods with TroutSpotter technology could provide new layers of depth to fish sampling without requiring additional resources from fisheries scientists.
The Future of Trout Tracking is in Your Hands
Every single trout you've ever caught has its own unique set of spots. When you snap a pic of your latest catch, you capture more than just (cute joke), you create a snapshot of an individual fish in time.
TroutSpotter technology combines photo submissions with the power of machine learning to identify and track individual trout, opening the door for community science to play a direct role in species tracking and conservation efforts.
Downstream, this technology has the potential to free up more resources for habitat tracking, river access, and the conservation work that will directly impact how you fish.
To test this method at scale, we’re aiming for 800 submissions from anglers like you this season. Reaching that milestone will give us a strong foundation to continue advancing TroutSpotter as a tool that can grow alongside fisheries science.
Privacy Matters
TroutSpotter is designed to protect your privacy at every step.
The photos you share will only be used to help train and improve the TroutSpotter model. They will not be made public or reused for other purposes.
Participation data is shared exclusively with trusted partners — USGS, Conservation X Labs, Trout Unlimited, and onWater — all dedicated to advancing fisheries science and conservation.
Your data will be:
• Only shared with TroutSpotter partners
• Used only for scientific purposes
“TroutSpotter is a powerful example of what happens when anglers, scientists, and technology come together.
With every fishing journal entry that’s opted into TroutSpotter, anglers are directly contributing to science and conservation in a way that was never before possible.”
– Helen Neville, Senior Scientist at Trout Unlimited
Become a TroutSpotter
Every submission makes an impact! And anglers everywhere are encouraged to join the effort while we work towards a goal of at least 800 submissions this season.
Download the onWater Fish app (iOS or Android).
Create a free account.
Log journal entries and opt into TroutSpotter to simultaneously become a smarter angler and a community scientist.
Join the Program through the onWater Fish App
“With TroutSpotter, we’re showing that anglers are not only enjoying rivers, they're supporting science, protecting ecosystems, and proving their role as essential stewards of our waters.”
Partner with TroutSpotter
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