Agencies put fishing and tidal apps on mobile devices

It's summer, and agencies recently have released several new free smart-phone applications to consumers that could come in handy for fishing, boating, vacation travel and outdoor picnics.

For example, the Commerce Department’s National Marine Fisheries Service introduced its “Release Mako” free Android application June 30 to encourage fishermen to help reduce overfishing of mako sharks by releasing and submitting name, date and place information for any of that species they catch.

The application makes it easy for anglers to submit a notice to a national map indicating where, when and by whom each shark was caught and released. An Automatic Geospatial Positioning System information is in the application.

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“By submitting this live release information through the app, and putting their mako on the map, fishermen will be able to see how they are making a difference in the conservation of shortfin mako sharks and encourage others to do the same,” the service said. Other mobile applications listed among those most recently released on USA.gov included:

• National Ocean Service – This new mobile Web version delivers tide and coastal conditions for the service’s nearest tide station to the user’s  ZIP code. It also offers news, audio, video and a selection of ocean facts. From the Commerce Department.
• Smart Traveler – Available on iPhone. Offers country information, maps, travel alerts and warnings, and U.S. embassy locations. From the State Department.
• Ask Karen – Mobile Web application from the Agriculture Department. Responds to questions submitted about food safety, such as “For how long can you safely serve potato salad at a picnic?” or “Is it safe to grill and eat hot dogs that have been unrefrigerated for three hours?"
  

Overall, federal agencies currently sponsor 70 mobile applications — including iPhone, iPad, Android and mobile Web applications — available to consumers for free at the USA.gov Mobile App Gallery. The General Services Administration currently is hosting a “Making Mobile Gov” online series of discussions to assist agencies in preparing mobile strategies and applications.