OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ icon
OCEARCH Shark Tracker™: Comprehensive Review of Marine Conservation App

by Ocearch.org

4.1
ANDROIDMaps & Navigation
OCEARCH Shark Tracker provides real-time tracking data for sharks and marine animals. Designed for ocean enthusiasts and educators, it supports conservation through public engagement with scientific research.

Detailed Review

The OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ application delivers real-time positional data for tagged sharks, turtles, and other marine species, serving as a public-facing portal for the nonprofit OCEARCH's scientific research initiatives. This tool bridges the gap between marine biology and public education, offering an immersive look into animal migration patterns and behaviors directly from mobile devices. Core functionality centers on an interactive global map displaying recent pings from satellite-tagged animals. Users can filter species by type, name, or gender, access individual animal profiles with tagging photos and biological data, and set custom alerts for specific animal movements. The app integrates educational resources including FAQs about tagging ethics, conservation efforts, and species information, transforming raw data into actionable knowledge for users. The interface employs a clean, map-centric design with intuitive navigation tabs for exploration, favorites, and educational sections. Real-world usage patterns show families tracking sharks during coastal vacations, educators using it in classroom settings, and conservation enthusiasts monitoring migration seasons. Performance remains stable during high-traffic periods like seasonal shark migrations, with offline caching for basic animal profiles. User feedback consistently praises the app's educational value and emotional engagement, with Patricia Lane (2024-06-14) noting how her family 'had a race to see who was going to win between us and a few of the sharks' during vacation. Multiple reviews from 2023-2025 highlight appreciation for expanding species coverage to include turtles, though some users suggest adding more historical migration data visualization tools. The application excels in making scientific research accessible and engaging for non-specialists, though its utility diminishes for users outside coastal regions or those seeking predictive analytics. It serves best as an educational tool and conservation awareness platform rather than a scientific research instrument, with particular value for marine biology educators and ocean recreation enthusiasts.

Key Features

  • Real-time animal tracking with satellite ping updates showing precise GPS coordinates and movement history across global oceans
  • Detailed animal profiles including naming history, biological metrics, tagging photos, and cumulative distance traveled data
  • Custom alert system notifying users when specific animals surface within user-defined geographic regions or proximity thresholds
  • Educational resource library with scientific FAQs about tagging methodology, conservation status, and species behavior explanations
  • Multi-species support including great white sharks, tiger sharks, turtles with filtering by species, gender, and life stage categories
  • Offline accessibility allowing users to view cached animal profiles and basic migration maps without active internet connection

Why Users Love It

Authentic scientific data integration
Strong educational conservation focus

Perfect for: Marine life enthusiasts, educators, and coastal recreationists

Screenshots

OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ screenshot 1OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ screenshot 2OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ screenshot 3OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ screenshot 4OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ screenshot 5OCEARCH Shark Tracker™ screenshot 6

User Reviews

FIN
Feb 2, 2025

I had the old tracker.... I can not even fi d the words to describe the new app. FINTASTIC! Above Exceptional! Amazing. The update is well done, and I am. Lown away. Hey, GOOGLE, you seriously need to do a top pick for this new tracker!

Wynne Linden
Aug 25, 2023

Really neat way to get involved (virtually) with tracking sea life, especially sharks, but looks like other types might be involved in the future. You get to see a picture of the animal (as it was caught and tagged). Lots of good FAQs, such as does the tagging hurt the animal? Ways to help, scientific data, etc. Coolest of all is seeing how far the animal moves and over what time period. I'm hoping to involve my grandson aged 4 (now) and help him become super sharp on sharks!!!

Patricia Lane
Jun 14, 2024

My family loves this app! We were able to watch the white sharks going south for the spring and we were in Panama City FL and could check out who was around! We took the car and had a race to see who was going to win between us and a few of the sharks! Was amazing to be able to see the info and we left when they did! My kids love you ocearch! Thanks for the updates and all the knowledge and information you give us!

Joey Drake
Jan 10, 2025

I love this app! I've been following rose the shark since September and I love getting the updates knowing my favorite shark is okay

Ed F
Jul 27, 2024

I love it! I'm always excited to see what my favorite sharks are up to or where they've last pinged. A great tool that is aimed at aiding ocean conservation, and I love it! There are now turtles, too!

App Details

Developer

Ocearch.org

Platform

android

Rating

4.1

Last Updated

9/7/2025