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Data & Privacy

Privacy Policy

We collect, use, and protect your data only to operate certification, communicate with you, and meet legal obligations.

Effective date: March 17, 2026
Last updated: March 17, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Fish Certification Authority, referred to below as FCA, we, us, or our, collects, uses, stores, and shares personal information when you use our website, create an account, submit a catch, receive certification-related emails, or interact with public verification features.

By using the site, you acknowledge this Privacy Policy.

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to the FCA website, user accounts, fish submission system, certificate verification pages, Hall of Fame pages, contact forms, and related communications.

2. Information we collect

Account and identity information

  • first name
  • last name
  • email address
  • account verification data
  • login data in protected form
  • account status and activity

Submission and certification information

  • species
  • catch length
  • catch date
  • body of water or location
  • uploaded photos
  • submission status
  • review history
  • approval, rejection, or revocation data
  • certificate ID and certificate metadata
  • acceptance of Terms of Service
  • acceptance of Privacy Policy
  • publication consent flags

Communications

  • messages sent through contact forms or email

Technical and usage data

  • IP address
  • browser and device type
  • operating system
  • pages viewed and timestamps
  • cookies or session data
  • security and diagnostic logs

3. How we use information

We use personal information to:

  • create and manage accounts
  • verify email addresses
  • process and review submissions
  • generate certificates, QR codes, and verification pages
  • publish approved records where consent allows
  • send transactional emails such as verification, submission status, approvals, and rejections
  • operate, secure, and improve the platform
  • detect fraud, abuse, and rule violations
  • maintain audit records for certification integrity
  • comply with legal obligations
  • respond to support requests

4. Public information

If a submission is approved and publication consent is given, FCA may publish:

  • name
  • species
  • catch length
  • catch date
  • body of water or location
  • certificate ID
  • certificate status
  • approved photos

Public pages may be indexed or copied by third parties. FCA cannot control external redistribution once published.

We process data based on user consent, operational necessity, fraud prevention, platform integrity, and legal compliance.

You may withdraw optional publication consent, but FCA may retain internal records for audit, fraud prevention, and legal reasons.

6. Sharing of information

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information with:

  • hosting and infrastructure providers
  • email delivery providers
  • security, analytics, and backup services
  • contractors operating the platform
  • legal authorities where required
  • successor entities in a business transfer

7. Data retention

We retain data as long as needed to operate the platform, maintain certification records, prevent fraud, resolve disputes, and comply with legal obligations.

Certification and audit records may be retained even if public pages are removed.

8. Cookies

We use cookies for login sessions, security, and basic analytics.

Disabling cookies may break site functionality.

9. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards. No system is completely secure.

10. Your rights

Depending on your location, you may request access, correction, or deletion of personal data, subject to legal and operational limits.

Contact: info@fishcertificationauthority.com

11. Children

The site is not intended for users who cannot legally consent to data processing under applicable law.

12. Third-party services

Third-party services may be used for hosting, email, and infrastructure. They operate under their own policies.

13. International processing

Data may be processed in jurisdictions outside your location depending on infrastructure providers.

14. Changes to this policy

Updates take effect when posted unless stated otherwise.

15. Contact

Fish Certification Authority
Email: info@fishcertificationauthority.com
Contact page: https://fishcertificationauthority.com/contact/