# ER Buoy — EarthRanger Buoy

> Real-time display of anonymized fishing gear locations for fishermen. (iPhone/iPad app by Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/er-buoy/id6740493604 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614005289)
- Category: Business
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 60 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-03-13
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/er-buoy/id6740493604/reviews.md

## What is ER Buoy?

This app enables users with an iOS or iPadOS device to automatically send their location to the EarthRanger platform so that anonymized on-demand fishing gear within 5 nautical miles of the user's location can be shown on the map in real-time. This app makes it easier for fishermen to deploy their ropeless gear while minimizing gear conflict with other fishermen, and indirectly reduces whale entanglements with fishing gear and reduces whale mortality
There is no login required to use this app. All gear data shown is completely anonymized to ensure data privacy.
Terms of use are governed by the EarthRanger End User License Agreement (EULA), which is available at https://EarthRanger/EULA. For more information about Al2's policy on location data, please visit https://www.earthranger.com/privacy-policy.

## Key features

- Real-time location sharing
- Anonymized fishing gear display
- Minimizes gear conflict
- Reduces whale entanglements
- No login required


## Frequently asked questions about ER Buoy

### What is ER Buoy?

ER Buoy is a free application for iOS devices that shows the real-time location of anonymized fishing gear. It helps fishermen deploy their gear safely and avoid conflicts with other vessels.

### Does ER Buoy require a login?

No, ER Buoy does not require any login to use. All gear data displayed is completely anonymized to ensure user privacy and data security.

### How does ER Buoy help marine life?

By displaying fishing gear locations in real-time, ER Buoy helps fishermen minimize gear conflict. This indirectly reduces the risk of whale entanglements with fishing gear, thus lowering whale mortality.

### What devices support ER Buoy?

ER Buoy is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, running on iOS and iPadOS.

### Is ER Buoy free to use?

Yes, ER Buoy is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees associated with the application.

### How often is ER Buoy updated?

The latest version of ER Buoy is 1.3.2, and it was last updated on January 5, 2026. Updates typically address performance improvements and feature enhancements.

### What is the age rating for ER Buoy?

ER Buoy has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for users of all ages. The application's content is considered appropriate for young children.

### Where can I find the terms of use for ER Buoy?

The terms of use for ER Buoy are governed by the EarthRanger End User License Agreement (EULA), which can be found at https://EarthRanger/EULA. Information about Al2's privacy policy regarding location data is available at https://www.earthranger.com/privacy-policy.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.2 — 2026-01-05

- Automatic refresh every 1 minute
- Fixed issues with the gear list refresh

### 1.3.1 — 2025-12-30

Fix data refresh issues

### 1.3.0 — 2025-12-26

- Onboarding flow
- Tap to uncluster gear
- Fix audio Alerts
- Fix the hide gear outside of the 5nm radius
- Layout adjustments for larger gear IDs
- Fix modal issues
- Fix data cache issues
- Fix the download feature

### 1.2.0 — 2025-10-09

- Offline capabilities
	- Access gear data even without an internet connection.
	- Added settings to extend the downloadable area for offline gear data.
- UI/UX improvements
	- Clear visual indicator when the app is offline.
	- Enhanced gear state visualization.
	- Improved readability of gear IDs.
	- Added fullscreen mode support for Android 15 and above.
- Bug fixes and performance improvements
- Added General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) as the new base-map layer.

### 1.1.0 — 2025-06-03

- Improved UX for app internet or GPS loss
  - Connection lost modal
  - Gear sheet
  - Map trawl UI
  - Gear List
- Bug fixes
  - Fix the trawl disappears when offline
  - Cluster count is sometimes inaccurate

## More apps by Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence

- [EarthRanger](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthranger/id1636950688)
- [Fuels Data](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fuels-data/id6446859468)

All apps by Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence: https://appshunter.io/developer/1614005289

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*