Bycatch Buddy

Bycatch Buddy is a mobile + web app for small-to-mid commercial fishing operations to record bycatch and protected-species interactions quickly and consistently. The core problem is that compliance logging is often messy: paper logs, inconsistent fields, missing GPS/time stamps, and stressful backfilling before inspections. The app guides crews through a minimal, offline-first flow: species (with a short list + photo), condition, gear type, estimated size, release method, and auto-captured time/GPS. It then generates regulator-ready reports and exports (PDF/CSV) aligned to common logbook formats, with audit trails that show when entries were created and edited. This is a combination traditional + AI app: AI is used only where it truly helps—optional photo-assisted species suggestions and data-quality checks (e.g., flagging impossible sizes or mismatched regions). It also supports vessel profiles, trip summaries, and simple analytics so operators can see patterns (hotspots, gear changes) that reduce future bycatch. This won’t “save the oceans” by itself; it’s a pragmatic compliance and operations tool. Success depends on nailing speed, offline reliability, and trust with fishers who hate extra paperwork.