Privacy Policy

The North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation (“NCMEF,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing fisheries science, coastal education, habitat restoration, and sound management of North Carolina’s marine and estuarine resources. Public trust is central to our mission, and that includes respecting the privacy of those who visit our website, use our Red Drum Tracking Platform, use our Red Drum Tracker mobile application, support our work, and engage with our programs.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use disclose, and safeguard personal information across www.ncmefoundation.org, the Red Drum Tracking Platform, and the Red Drum Tracker mobile application (collectively, the “Services”).

By using these Services, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

Information You Voluntarily Provide

You may choose to provide personal information when you:

Subscribe to our email newsletter
Contact us through the website
Make a charitable donation
Purchase merchandise through our online store
Create an account for the Red Drum Tracker mobile app

Depending on your interaction with NCMEF, we may collect:

First and last name
Email address
Mailing address (when applicable)
Payment-related information necessary to process donations or purchases
Any information you voluntarily include in correspondence with us

Information Collected Automatically

Website: Like most websites, we automatically collect certain technical information when you visit, including IP addresses, browser type, device type, operating system, pages visited, date and time of visit, referring website, and general usage information.

App: The app automatically collects certain technical information, including device type and model, operating system, app version, IP address, a randomly generated app-installation identifier, usage statistics (such as screens viewed and time spent), and crash/diagnostic reports.

This information helps us understand how visitors use the Services, improve functionality, diagnose technical issues, and better serve our audience.

Cookies (Website)

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to support essential website functionality, remember certain preferences, understand website traffic, and measure the effectiveness of our educational content and outreach.

We use CookieYes to manage cookie consent. Necessary cookies that support core website functions may operate without prior consent. Non-essential cookies, including analytics and advertising-related cookies, are disabled by default and are activated only after you provide consent through the cookie banner.

You may accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customize your preferences through the cookie consent banner. You may also revisit and change your cookie preferences at any time using the cookie settings control available on the website.

We also use Google Consent Mode to communicate your consent choices to supported Google services. Your consent choices determine whether certain analytics and advertising-related storage may be used.

Analytics and Diagnostics

We use Google Analytics on the website, and Google Analytics, Firebase, and Sentry within the app, to understand how the Services are used, diagnose technical issues, and improve performance. These tools collect technical information such as pages/screens visited, time spent, browser or device characteristics, and general geographic region derived from IP address.

On the website, analytics-related storage is disabled by default and is enabled only after you provide the applicable consent through our cookie banner.

This information is analyzed in aggregate and is not used by NCMEF to identify individual users beyond what is reasonably necessary to provide functionality and improve performance.

Push Notifications (App)

With your permission, the app may send notifications about new fish movements, project updates, and new app features. Notifications are optional and can be enabled or disabled at any time through your device settings or within the app, where available.

Email Communications

If you subscribe to updates from NCMEF, we collect your email address to send newsletters, project updates, educational resources, event announcements, and occasional fundraising communications. Email communications are managed through Mailchimp. You may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in every email or by contacting us directly.

Donations (Website)

Online donations are processed through a secure third-party payment provider (Stripe). NCMEF does not store complete credit card numbers or other sensitive payment information on our servers; payment information is handled in accordance with our payment processor’s privacy and security practices.

Merchandise Purchases (Website)

Our online store is operated through Shopify. Information collected during merchandise purchases may also be subject to Shopify’s privacy practices in addition to this Privacy Policy.

Red Drum Tracking Platform (Website and App)

The Red Drum Tracking Platform is an educational resource sharing the movements of satellite-tagged red drum to promote public understanding of fisheries science, accessible through both the website and the app.

You may browse the platform without creating an account. If you choose to create a free account (in the app), we collect your first name, last name, email address, and a password, which is stored securely. Registered users may currently save favorite fish; additional account features may become available as the app evolves.

Tracking information is provided for educational, scientific, and public engagement purposes. To support ongoing research and responsible stewardship, displayed fish locations are intentionally delayed by approximately seven days. Satellite tags communicate opportunistically, so displayed locations represent scientific estimates rather than precise locations, and may be reviewed, corrected, or refined as additional data becomes available after a tag deployment concludes. Tracking information should not be used to determine the current location of any fish or relied upon for navigation, fishing activities, or other operational decisions.

Contact Forms

If you contact NCMEF through the website, we collect the information you voluntarily provide so we may respond to your inquiry, and may retain correspondence as reasonably necessary to respond to questions, improve our communications, and maintain appropriate organizational records.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Operate and maintain the Services
Respond to questions and requests
Process charitable donations and fulfill merchandise orders
Send newsletters and NCMEF communications
Send optional app notifications
Maintain user accounts and save preferences
Improve the Services and user experience
Better understand usage and diagnose technical issues
Protect the security of our systems
Comply with applicable legal obligations

How We Share Information

NCMEF does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

We may share information with trusted service providers that help us operate the services and carry out our mission, including providers that assist with:

Website services (Thrive Creative Labs)
Tracking platform, app, and account hosting (Mapotic), which stores Red Drum Tracker account information such as your name, email address, securely stored password, and saved favorites
Email communications (Mailchimp)
Donation payment processing (Stripe)
Online merchandise sales (Shopify)
Analytics, application services, and diagnostics (Google Analytics, Firebase, Sentry)
App distribution (Apple App Store, Google Play)

These service providers receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform services on our behalf and remain subject to their own privacy obligations. We may also disclose information when required by law or when necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of NCMEF or others.

Data Security

We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information entrusted to us. While we work to protect your information, no method of transmitting data over the Internet or storing electronic information can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention and Account Deletion

We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, comply with applicable legal obligations, resolve disputes, and maintain appropriate organizational records.

Red Drum Tracking Platform account information is retained in accordance with platform administration practices. App account holders may request deletion of their account through the account management section of the app or by following the in-app account deletion instructions; requests are processed by NCMEF through the platform’s services.

How to delete in the app: Account tab → “Delete account”

How to request it by email: write to info@ncmefoundation.org from the email address on the account

Children’s Privacy

The services are intended for a general audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without appropriate parental consent. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the services, please contact us so we can promptly investigate and, when appropriate, remove the information.

Third-Party Websites and Services

The Services include links to, or rely on, third-party websites and services, including donation platforms, our online store, partner organizations, social media platforms, and the app distribution platforms noted above. Once you leave NCMEF’s website or app environment, the privacy practices of those third parties govern your interactions. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external websites or services you use.

Your Choices

You may:

Unsubscribe from e-mail communications at any time
Accept, reject, or customize non-essential cookies through our cookie consent settings
Change your cookie preferences at any time using the cookie settings control available on the website
Manage or disable cookies through your web browser settings
Enable or disable app push notifications through your device settings or within the app
Request deletion of an app account through the app’s account management tools
Contact us to request updates or corrections to personal information we maintain, subject to applicable law

Changes to this Privacy Policy

As our programs, technology, and legal obligations evolve, we may update this Privacy Policy. Revisions will be posted on this page (and reflected within the app, where appropriate). Continued use of the Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, would like to request corrections to your information, or would like to submit a data deletion request, please contact:

North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation
Phone: (984) 304-7860
Email: info@ncmefoundation.org