Privacy Policy for MariScope / Reef Conservation App

Joytech Solutions ("we", "us", "our") operates the MariScope mobile and web application designed to support reef conservation and marine early-warning in Mauritius and surrounding waters. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and share your information when you use the app and related services.

By using the app, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the app.

1. Information we collect

1.1 User profile information

When you create a profile, we may collect:

• Full name or display name
• Email address
• Profile photo (optional)
• Organisation or role (optional)
• Communication and notification preferences

This information is used to create and manage your account, and to personalise your 경험 in the app.

1.2 Observations and reports at sea

The app allows you to enter and submit observations related to reef conditions and marine environments. When you submit an observation, we may collect:

• Observation details (for example: coral bleaching, algal bloom, turbidity, marine life presence, damage, pollution)
• Photos or media that you choose to upload
• Notes or comments you provide to describe what you see or measure
• Date and time of the observation
• GPS coordinates or approximate location (only if you grant location permission on your device)
• Any environmental measurements you enter manually

These observations are used to support reef monitoring, environmental analysis and conservation activities.

1.3 Automatically collected information

When you use the app, some technical information is collected automatically, such as:

• Device model and operating system version
• App version
• Usage statistics and interaction events
• Crash logs and performance diagnostics
• Internet Protocol (IP) address (for security and analytics)

This helps us maintain the security, stability and performance of the app and improve the user experience over time.

1.4 External environmental data

The app fetches real-time and predictive sea and oceanographic data from publicly available or authorised data providers (for example regional marine information systems and satellite-based products).

These external datasets may include:

• Sea surface temperature and anomalies
• Sea state and wave height
• Wind and currents
• Chlorophyll or similar indicators
• Other oceanographic or environmental indicators

We do not collect personal data from these providers. This environmental data is used solely to display conditions, forecasts and indicators in the app and to contextualise user observations.

2. How we use your information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate and maintain the app and its core features
• Enable and manage your user profile and authentication
• Allow you to create, view and manage your marine observations and reports
• Display environmental conditions and predictions based on external sea data sources
• Improve the accuracy and usefulness of insights, alerts and maps
• Support conservation partners with aggregated, non-personal data
• Monitor app performance, troubleshoot issues and enhance UX
• Communicate important updates about the app or this Privacy Policy

We do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties.

3. Sharing of information

3.1 Conservation partners and stakeholders

We may share anonymised or aggregated observation data and indicators with recognised reef conservation organisations, scientific partners or relevant authorities to support reef and marine ecosystem protection.

We do not share your directly identifying personal information (such as your name or email address) with these partners unless:

• It is strictly necessary for a specific collaborative project, and
• You have given your explicit consent where required.

3.2 Service providers

We may use trusted third-party service providers to help us operate the app and services, such as:

• Cloud hosting and database providers
• Analytics and crash reporting services
• Authentication and notification services

These providers may process personal data on our behalf and are bound by appropriate confidentiality and data protection obligations. They are not permitted to use your data for their own purposes.

3.3 Legal requirements

We may disclose your information if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations or legal processes
• Respond to valid requests from law enforcement or public authorities
• Protect the rights, property or safety of users, third parties, or the environment

4. Location services

The app may request permission to access your device's location. Location data is used to:

• Associate your observations with a specific area or lagoon on the map
• Display relevant sea and environmental conditions near your current area
• Improve local predictions and insights

Location is collected only if you grant permission on your device, and you can withdraw this permission at any time through your device or app settings.

5. Data storage and security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access or disclosure. These measures may include:

• Secure cloud infrastructure and restricted access controls
• Encryption in transit where appropriate
• Regular monitoring, updates and security reviews

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the services described in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes.

Environmental and oceanographic data fetched from external providers is typically non-personal and may be stored temporarily for caching, analysis or reporting purposes.

You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data at any time (see "Your rights" below).

7. Children's privacy

The app is not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will take steps to delete such information.

8. Your rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data, including:

• Right of access – to request a copy of your personal data
• Right of rectification – to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right of erasure – to request deletion of your personal data
• Right to withdraw consent – for example, for location services or specific types of processing
• Right to data portability – to request your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Right to object or restrict processing in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided below. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

9. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your data, or if you wish to exercise your rights, you can contact us at:

Joytech Solutions
Email: admin@joytech-solutions.com
Website: https://joytech-solutions.com

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the app, legal requirements or our data practices. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.