Privacy Policy for Fresh Water Fishes of East Africa (FFEA)
Last Updated: August 12, 2026
Fresh Water Fishes of East Africa, also known as FFEA ("we," "our," or "us"), is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you download, access, or use our mobile application (the "App").
- 1. Device Privacy and Permissions
- FFEA values your digital privacy. The App does not silently collect, harvest, or access data from your local device storage, system files, contact lists, or background tracking sensors.
- Media and Camera Access: To allow subscribed or authorized users to submit fish records, the App requires explicit permission to access your device's camera and photo gallery. This access is exclusively restricted to files that you manually choose to interact with and upload.
- 2. Information We Collect
- We only collect the minimal amount of data necessary to provide and maintain the App's services:
- Account & Subscription Information: When you register for an account or purchase a subscription, we collect your email address, username, and basic subscription status.
- User-Generated Content & Embedded Metadata: If you are a subscribed or authorized user, we collect the scientific descriptions, photos, and illustrations that you explicitly upload. Please be aware that the App may read and extract embedded location data (such as GPS coordinates or EXIF metadata) directly from your uploaded photographs to accurately generate distribution maps.
- Technical Logs: We may collect anonymous diagnostic information (such as crash reports or app performance data) to keep the system running smoothly. This data is not linked to your personal identity.
- 3. How We Use Your Information
- We use the collected information strictly to:
- Validate your subscription status and manage your account.
- Process, moderate, and display your permitted photo uploads, descriptions, and corresponding geographic points within our educational distribution maps.
- Send you vital system notifications, account updates, or responses to your support inquiries.
- 4. Communication Policy and Notification Controls
- We will never send you unsolicited third-party marketing, promotional messages, or spam.
- Service and Data Updates: We may send catalog updates, new species alerts, and essential service messages via your registered email or through in-app alerts.
- Control: You can manage your notification preferences at any time within your device's application settings or by contacting our support team.
- 5. Data Retention and Deletion
- Account Data: We retain your account details for as long as your account remains active. If you cancel your subscription or delete your account, your profile data will be removed.
- Uploaded Content & Map Points: To preserve the integrity of our educational database and natural history records, scientific descriptions, map locations, and photos submitted by users may remain within the App's catalog even after an account is closed, subject to the perpetual license granted in our Terms of Use.
- 6. Compliance and Governing Law
- This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Kenya. We handle data responsibly and aim to respect regional frameworks like the Kenyan Data Protection Act.
- 7. Changes to This Privacy Policy
- We reserve the right to update this policy in the future to reflect changes in our services or legal frameworks. We will notify users of any significant updates via an in-app alert or email.
- 8. Contact Information
- If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your data, or wish to request account deletion, please contact us at:
Email: freshwaterfishesea@gmail.com