OCEARCH Shark Trackerโ„ข icon
OCEARCH Shark Trackerโ„ข: Comprehensive Review of Marine Animal Monitoring App

by OCEARCH

โ˜…4.8
IOSEducation
OCEARCH Shark Tracker provides real-time tracking of tagged marine animals worldwide. The free iOS app delivers scientific data and educational content for marine enthusiasts and conservation supporters.

Detailed Review

The OCEARCH Shark Trackerโ„ข represents a unique convergence of marine science and public engagement, offering unprecedented access to real-time animal movement data. Developed by the non-profit OCEARCH research organization, this application transforms smartphone users into virtual research assistants, providing legitimate scientific tracking capabilities typically reserved for marine biologists. The application's core functionality centers on an interactive global map displaying active animal tracks with detailed metadata including species, size, weight, and last ping location. Users can filter animals by species (primarily great white sharks and sea turtles), gender, and stage of life, with each profile containing research expedition history and scientific observations. The platform updates every time tagged animals surface, transmitting their GPS coordinates via satellite technology, creating a dynamic living map of marine migration patterns. User experience benefits from intuitive map navigation and clean information architecture, though the interface maintains a utilitarian scientific aesthetic rather than polished consumer appeal. Real-world usage patterns show educators using the app for classroom demonstrations, fishing communities monitoring local shark activity, and families following specific animals during seasonal migrations. The absence of subscription fees or in-app purchases removes barriers to access while maintaining focus on educational objectives. User feedback consistently praises the app's real-time data accuracy and educational value, with reviewer TrixiM noting on July 18, 2024: 'Love all the information and you can track where they go.' Multiple reviews from July 2024 highlight appreciation for current data compared to paid alternatives using historical information, though user Meatsacker requested expanded species diversity beyond the current emphasis on great white sharks. The application excels in delivering authentic scientific engagement and conservation awareness, though its specialized focus limits broad consumer appeal. Data availability depends entirely on tagged animals surfacing for transmission, creating occasional gaps in tracking continuity. Ideal for marine science educators, conservation-minded families, and fishing industry professionals seeking legitimate animal movement data without commercial scientific software costs.

Key Features

  • โ€ขReal-time animal tracking using satellite GPS data showing current marine animal positions and migration patterns worldwide
  • โ€ขDetailed animal profiles containing scientific data including size, weight, research history and expedition participation records
  • โ€ขInteractive filtering system allowing users to sort animals by species, gender, life stage and last transmission date
  • โ€ขEducational content integration providing conservation information and research methodology explanations from OCEARCH scientists
  • โ€ขMap customization features enabling users to toggle between standard and satellite views with zoom capability for regional monitoring
  • โ€ขFree access to all features without subscriptions or in-app purchases maintaining accessibility for educational purposes

Why Users Love It

Authentic scientific data
Completely free access

Perfect for: Marine science enthusiasts, educators, and conservation supporters

User Reviews

CooperF34
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Jun 13, 2024

This is a great app to learn about sharks and know when there near you so nothing happens Great app This is a great app to learn about sharks and know when there near you so nothing happens

TrixiM
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Jul 18, 2024

Love all the information and you can track where they go. Great app Love all the information and you can track where they go.

addy_stich
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Aug 6, 2024

So I love this app but they donโ€™t have dolphins and we need more sharks pls but this app is great itโ€™s for 4 and up ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ Sharks So I love this app but they donโ€™t have dolphins and we need more sharks pls but this app is great itโ€™s for 4 and up ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

laureno22
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Aug 3, 2024

Iโ€™ve always been fascinated with sharks. Especially great white sharks. Decades of living in Beach Haven NJ where the 1916 first ever documented shark attack in the world happened. I followed Mary Lee and was thrilled to see her final ping just off Beach Haven. Thanks for educating the world about sharks and their impact on our planet. Keep up the outstanding research! My favorite app! Iโ€™ve always been fascinated with sharks. Especially great white sharks. Decades of living in Beach Haven NJ where the 1916 first ever documented shark attack in the world happened. I followed Mary Lee and was thrilled to see her final ping just off Beach Haven. Thanks for educating the world about sharks and their impact on our planet. Keep up the outstanding research!

Disatisified Customer
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Jul 27, 2024

This app is so fun. It would be nice if you could color code the years. So then when you are starting out you know the current and mark the end with a different symbol not a dot Fun This app is so fun. It would be nice if you could color code the years. So then when you are starting out you know the current and mark the end with a different symbol not a dot

App Details

Developer

OCEARCH

Platform

ios

Rating

โ˜…4.8

Last Updated

9/7/2025