Fish Map

The Alaska Fish Map App, powered by the Indigenous Sentinels Network (ISN), is designed primarily for community observers to record nominations of anadromous fish to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Anadromous Waters Catalog & Atlas (AWC) in a reliable and streamlined manner. The Alaska Fish Map app is part of a collaboration between the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government.

Fish habitat protection is mandated by the Alaska Constitution and Title 16 of Alaska Statutes. However, protections under the law are only triggered when a segment of a water body is cataloged in the Anadromous Waters Catalog. It is estimated that only a fraction of essential fish habitat (for rearing, migration, and spawning) are currently cataloged and protected. Until these habitats are inventoried, they will not be protected under Alaska State law. To be protected, water bodies must be documented as supporting some life function of anadromous fish species (salmon, trout, char, whitefish, sturgeon, etc.).

This project helps to “crowdsource” the immense efforts needed to catalog the vast rivers, lakes, and streams throughout the state. In addition, the Fish Map App has the capacity to document culvert blockages and other impediments to fish passages, which can allow for the ability to report these issues to the necessary entities. The bulk of this project is directed towards documenting new water bodies; however, there is adequate potential built into the app technology to edit and add to existing stream documentations within the AWC (e.g., adding new species within a documented stream, extending species distribution, updating stream channels, etc.).

Anadromous fish must be seen or collected and identified by a qualified observer. Data documenting anadromous fish species can be logged in the field regardless of internet access through the Alaska Fish Map smartphone app and then can be uploaded to the ISN database when a Wi-Fi connection is available. Data will then be shared with ADF&G for validation and use in the AWC nomination process. Nominations to ADF&G are reviewed on an annual basis for inclusion in the AWC.

If you want to request access to your data or delete your account please contact the administrators at [email protected]. The process for account deletion is manual and takes up to 3 working days to complete. You will be notified when the user account and personal data have been deleted