Privacy Policy

FishingBC App Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 1, 2023

The Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia (“SFI”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to maintaining the integrity and privacy of your personal information. This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) is a part of our Terms and Conditions and it is intended to explain how we handle personal information that we collect from you when you visit our website located at https://fishingbcapp.ca (the “Website”), use the BCFishing App (the “App”) or otherwise interact with us (collectively, the “Services”).

By voluntarily providing us with your personal information through the use of the Services, you are consenting to the collection, use, transfer and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our Services.

Personal Information We Collect

For the purpose of this Policy, “personal information” means any information about an identifiable individual that is recorded in any form.

We may collect or obtain the following types of information:

  • Information provided to us. We collect information that you provide to us through our Services including your name, gender, date of birth, phone number, address, Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License (“License”) number, an image of your License and whether you are a resident of Canada. This may also include catch information such as the species, time of the catch, location of the catch, the length and weight of the catch and/or a photo and/or videos of the catch, and other information collected as part of your catch log.
  • General usage data. When you use our Website, we may also collect your Internet Protocol address, information about the date, time and duration of your visit and features you use on our Website. When you use our App, we may also collect the type of device you are using to access the App, your device’s unique identifier and technical information about the App, such as your selected fishing location(s), your preferred language as well as information about your use of the App.
  • Google Analytics. When you use our Services, we collect certain information about your activity, as described below under “Google Analytics”.

Notice and Consent

We generally obtain consent from individuals regarding the purpose for the collection, use, disclosure or transfer of personal information before, or at any time that we collect the personal information, except as required or otherwise permitted by law.

Except in limited circumstances, the consent of an individual may be withdrawn at any time by providing us with reasonable notice. You may withdraw your consent for the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by contacting us at FishingBCPrivacy@sportfishing.bc.ca. Please be advised that the withdrawal of consent may restrict SFI’s ability to provide our Services.

How We Use Personal Information

We collect, use and may disclose certain information that you voluntarily give us directly or permit others to give us, and information that we provide to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (“DFO”), the University of British Columbia and/or Simon Fraser University, including details relating to your catch log.

We may use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To provide you with access to our Services, which includes obtaining a copy of your License from DFO;
  • To enable you to use our Services including
    • To keep and upload photos and/or videos, share photos and/or videos onto social media;
    • to display your Licence;
    • to maintain and update your catch log and identify and record your catch;
    • to enable you to complete DFO catch log requirements;
    • to provide Chinook and Coho catch log information to University of British Columbia researchers;
    • to provide Simon Fraser University with a photo of your catch;
    • to provide you with current, location-based weather forecasts including marine synopsis using your coordinates;
    • to keep a historical Catch Data report;
  • To create, process and maintain your account and to provide you with notices about fishing related topics, such as opening and closures of fishing areas;
  • To notify you about changes to our Services;
  • To improve our Services, visitor/user relationships and experience;
  • To monitor for fraudulent or inappropriate use of the App, including monitoring networking traffic and identifying unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage;
  • To answer your questions when you communicate with us directly;
  • In any other way we may describe when you provide the information;
  • For any other purpose with your consent; and
  • As permitted or required by law.

Transferring or Disclosing Personal Information to Third Parties

We may transfer or disclose your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To provide the Services to you and for other purposes we informed you of at the time of collection;
  • For purposes that we use the information for and are listed in this Policy;
  • To send out communications to you;
  • To enable you to share your photos and videos on social media or with friends;
  • To third party service providers we use to support our operations such as analytics that assist us with improving our Services and/or communications;
  • For research and statistical purposes in partnership with DFO and with researchers at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University;
  • In the event of a real or potential merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution or other sale or transfer of our assets, in which personal information about our users is among the assets transferred;
  • To service providers who perform functions on our behalf such as data processing or document retention;
  • To comply with applicable laws or valid legal processes;
  • To protect our legal rights; and
  • For any other purposes disclosed by us when you provide the information.

Accuracy, Access and Correction of Personal Information

We rely on you to keep us informed if your personal information has changed.

You may request to modify, correct or access the personal information that we hold about you by contacting us via the mailing address listed below or email (to FishingBCPrivacy@sportfishing.bc.ca).

We may request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and your right to access, and to provide you with the personal information that we hold about you or make your requested changes. Applicable law may allow or require us to refuse to provide you with access to some or all of the personal information that we hold about you, or we may have destroyed, erased, or made your personal information anonymous in accordance with our record retention obligations and practices. If we cannot provide you with access to your personal information, we will inform you of the reasons why, subject to any legal or regulatory restrictions.

We may charge you a fee to access your personal information, however, we will notify you of any fee in advance.

Security and Protection of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps, using technical, administrative and physical measures to protect personal information in our care.

Access to personal information is provided on a need-to-know basis to carry out the purposes for which the information was collected and otherwise as described in this Policy. As well, your data is transferred over a secure connection and is encrypted while in transit.

Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or data storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we strive to use reasonable precautions to protect personal information in our care, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Data Retention

Except as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law or regulation, we will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

Under some circumstances we may anonymize or de-identify your personal information so that it can no longer be associated with you. We reserve the right to use such anonymous and de-identified information for any legitimate operational purpose without further notice to you.

Amendments to this Policy

We may change this Policy from time to time in our sole discretion, so please be sure to check back periodically. You can tell if this Policy has been updated by checking the last updated date which appears at the top of this page. We may, but are not obligated, to provide you with notice in case of any material changes made to this Policy. You should not continue using our Services if you do not agree with the version of this Policy in effect at that time. Any changes will be effective only after the effective date of the change and will not affect any dispute arising prior to the effective date of the change.

Use of Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). We use the information processed on our behalf by Google to help us evaluate how users interact with our Services, to compile reports on activity on our Services, and to determine areas where we can improve our Services. Google Analytics uses cookies to help the website analyze how users use the site. You can opt-out of Google Analytics by downloading and installing Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. For more information on Google Analytics’ processing of Personal Information, please see “How Google uses data when you use our partners’ sites or apps.

Third Party Websites

From time to time, we may include links to third party websites which are not controlled or maintained by us. We are not responsible for personal information submitted by you to third party websites or the personal information collected by third party websites, You should review the privacy policies of third party websites or contact the third party website’s operator if you have any questions or concerns.

Contact Us

If you have any comments, questions or requests with respect to this Policy, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at FishingBCPrivacy@sportfishing.bc.ca.

Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia
19155 38th Avenue #104
Surrey, British Columbia
V3Z 0Y6

What people are saying about FishingBC:

“Just got the app and it is going to be very useful. Super easy to look up regulations. Awesome to have my license on my phone.”

Myles Stoesz

“Going to be great. Scanned my license in easily. Took a look through the regs and found the app to be really quick and easy to use. Lots of useful info!”

Andrew Mallory

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