The Recfish website allows anglers to upload their fish photos so they can be used to train a model to identify different species. (VIMS/WYDaily)
Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) are casting a wide net in search of fish photos. Their immediate goal is to use angler snapshots to train software to identify different fish species. Their ultimate goal is to put that artificial intelligence into a “RecFish” cell-phone app, giving anglers a multi-use field guide right in their pocket, and scientists a collaborative tool for better management of recreational species.
“We’re really excited about building out our app,” says Kellogg. “Once finished, all you’ll need to do is open the app and point your cell-phone camera at a fish and it will instantly tell you the species, size, and approximate weight and let you record that info to your logbook with the touch of a button.” The app will also instantly provide information on whether a fish is legal to keep based on the date, location and local fishing regulations.