2023 Exploits River Atlantic Salmon Best Practices

Exploits River, N.L.

June 1 - Oct 7, 2023
EVENT RULES

This event is to demonstrate your best catch and release practices only. All photo submissions must show proper techniques of catch and release practices.

1. Getting Started

1. The 2023 Exploits River Atlantic Salmon Best Practices is an online event run through Angler’s Atlas website and their mobile app MyCatch.

2. Anyone with an inland fisheries license (Salmon license) issued by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry & Agriculture can participate in the 2023 Exploits River Atlantic Salmon Best Practices registration is only able to support individual registration. For those participants sharing a mobile device, participants must login to their own account to submit their catches through the manage accounts feature.

3. This event is free to enter. 

4. Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for approval.

5. In order for catches to be sent properly, you must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app.

6. All participants must register for the event via this URL: https://www.anglersatlas.com/event/725/2023-exploits-river-event-2023

7. You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the event.

8. Once accepted into the event, and if you have not already done so; download the free MyCatch mobile app which is available for both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store) and login to activate the event on the app using the same login email and password that you used to register in the event. If you previously have had the app, we suggest doing a check to see if there are updates or simply reload the app.

9. Practice using the MyCatch app ahead of time

1. Watch all four videos available at this link to familiarize yourself with the app: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1Yp9OqZ6saBgaKklT5jh6DkuTbai3NeJ

2. Test the app before you go out fishing (note: the app allows you to record fish for your own personal logbook while not in an active event. Some features will appear slightly different when you are not in an active event, so please make sure you watch the YouTube videos at the link above).

10. By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.

11. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the event will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.

12. A great resource to refer to is our video "How To Register For An Event" which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA

2. Catch Reporting Rules

• This event is to demonstrate your best catch and release practices only. We ask that you treat all fish caught with due care and attention. Practice Safe and responsible release techniques to help ensure salmon survival. See safe handling procedures here: https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/40729655.pdf 

• This event is for Atlantic Salmon only. Follow Provincial reguations using the information here: https://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/en/NL/AG/anglersguide

• In order for each catch to qualify for the competition, a photograph must be submitted using the MyCatch app and then you may also add an optional video release of the fish (ie. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source) both of which should show best practices for releasing fish (see E below).

• All participants must have GPS/location services enabled on your cell phone for their catches to qualify. Your location data will be protected. For more information, see details below.

• Show us your best catch & release techniques which may include the following:
  - Using a landing net with knotless mesh
  - Keeping the salmon ender water as much as possible
  - Handling the salmon gently
  - Removing the hook gently with pliers or with your thumb and forefinger. If the hook must be left in, cut the leader as close to it as possible
  - Supporting the fish under the belly, keeping it in an upright position under water and facing into the current 

• Event organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.

• You will be prompted for a photo (no measauring device is required) of your fish as soon as you press "Add A Catch". This is where you will take a photo of your fish showing the above best practices. You will be given the opportunity to accept or retake a photo.

• You will then be directed to a screen to "Add A Hero Photo" OR "Add A Release Video". By pressing the video option, you could also record a video showing the best practices. 

• You will then be directed to a screen to select the species of fish. There is a search tab at the top for this as well. After you enter some fish, your most popular fish species will be at the top of the lsit. 

• After selecting the species, another screen will pop up and you can simply press "save" at the top right and your submission is complete

• The app will work without WiFi or any or strong cell service. If you submit an entry without any or strong enough service, the app will tell you that the entry has been recorded, and that it will sync up to the server once you return to service. Every fish you log (whether in good service or not) will appear in your app’s Log View (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). If you have fish “awaiting sync,” it will indicate this here. The submissions will eventually come through on their own once you return to service, but you can help speed up the process by “manually syncing” those pending logs (see how here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-AwLc8OLY) once you’re in service. The logs are time/date/location stamped to the moment that they were taken, so even if the submission is delayed, the time on that submission will still be accurate.

• Catches that are submitted will be reviewed for approval at least once per day during the week. Our Catch Approval Team made up of trained biology students will be reviewing and approving all fish. Once the submissions are reviewed and approved, they appear immediately on the appropriate leaderboard(s). DO NOT EXPECT to see entries show up immediately after you log them.

• IMPORTANT: Arguing against or trying to attribute reason as to why any of the above rules could not be followed will have ZERO bearing on the ruling of a rejected fish. “It was cold/windy” or “My buddy can verify...” will not be considered, and NO exceptions will be made. It is on the angler to review their photo thoroughly and submit an acceptable photo based on the above rules.

• A great resource is the MyCatch video that shows how to complete a submission through the app: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA

3. Event Location and Times

1. The event boundaries are within the limits of the Exploits River - SF #4 in Newfoundland. See attached map for detailed boundaries.

2. The event runs from:

Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 7:30 am through to

Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 7:30 pm

3. All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify.

4. At the discretion of the event director, days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

4. Awards &  Prizes

1. Awards will be announced ASAP.

2. There will be at least one prize awarded per month of the event

3. Angler's will have up to 60 days to claim their prize. Anglers who do not claim their prize within this period forfeit their prize. 

4. The best overall Catch & Release video will win a prize at the end of the event. A short list of screeened videos will be posted and anglers will vote on the best one to determine the winner. 

5. Other Rules

1. By registering and participating in the event, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in the 2023 Exploits River Atlantiic Salmon Best Practices event rules. 

2. This event is catch and release ONLY. To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are to handle fish safely. Blatant abuse to fish or the resource is reason for disqualification. Handle fish as little as possible. Keep the fish in the water at all times. Remove hooks with pliers. Refer to safe handling procedures: https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/40729655.pdf

3. Use only barbless hooks. 

4. Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. This is an individual event, so you cannot enter as a partnership or team, and under no circumstances can you share fish with any other angler. Anglers are free to fish alone or with other event or non-event anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish on their own app.

5. All fish entered for this event must be caught via angling i.e. using hook, line, rod and reel. At no time will fish caught by non angling (i.e. use of traps, trap nets or cages) be allowed to be entered. Usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is allowed.

6. Each contestant must have in their possession a valid fishing license for their respective jurisdiction or be exempt under regulations of their jurisdiction.

7. Each contestant must conform to the general sport fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing. You must follow all regulations pertaining to any possession limits.

8. Promoters and organizers assisting in the event operation are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire or any loss to any contestants.

9. Any angler found to be cheating will be disqualified from the event. Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban anglers from competing in future events.

10. All rules have loopholes. It is our intention to provide an honest sportsmanlike event. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgments.

11. All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this event are to be referred to the Organizer or their designated committee. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesman for the rules during the event. The contact person for this event is the Angler's Atlas Catch Team and can be reached by email at [email protected] (please include the name of the event in your email).

12. All participants must follow boating safety regulations in your jurisdiction.

13. PFD’s must be worn while your main motor is under power

14. All photo and video submissions may be used by MyCatch by Angler's Atlas for future use.

6. Data Privacy and Fisheries Research

“Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret” — This is our primary commitment to anglers who report their catches through MyCatch. So what does this mean in practice?

1. Angler’s Atlas does not release MyCatch GPS data to the public. It is treated as confidential and is provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.

2. Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.

3. Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.

4. Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.

5. Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement. 

6. Exact location data cannot be published as part of the scientific research. Instead, it has to be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse engineered. 

7. Angler’s Atlas may release data to a law enforcement agency if compelled to do so under court order.

These data privacy rules are designed to protect our angler’s private data, to conserve the fisheries, and to make sure we maintain a trusting relationship with our anglers into the future. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angler’s Atlas President directly by email ([email protected]).