Privacy Policy

Last updated: this document is maintained by Pearl Protectors and may be updated from time to time — see "Changes to this policy" below.

1. Who we are

Turtle Patrol is the volunteer coordination app for Pearl Protectors, a sea turtle conservation program. This policy explains what information we collect through the app, why we collect it, and the choices you have — including how to delete your account.

2. Information we collect

We collect information you provide directly, information generated by your participation in patrols, and a small amount of technical information needed to run the app.

Account information

• Name, email address, and password (stored as a secure hash, never in plain text)
• A profile photo, if you choose to add one

Volunteer application & onboarding

• Date of birth and gender
• National ID or passport number — used to positively identify volunteers during night patrols, in case of an incident requiring emergency response
• Mobile number, home address, province, and district
• Education level, languages spoken, and relevant skills
• Emergency contact name, relationship, and mobile number
• Your availability, motivation for volunteering, and other organizations you volunteer with
• A signed liability waiver, including your signature image, before your first patrol

Patrol & conservation data

• Patrol session records: when and where you patrolled, and who else was on that patrol
• Nest/sighting logs you record: species, egg and hatchling counts, GPS coordinates of the nest, weather, pollution, and erosion observations, and any comments
• Photos you take of turtles, nests, or the surrounding environment during a patrol

App activity

• Posts, comments, and reactions you make on the team feed
• Private notes you keep in your notebook — these are visible only to you
• Training module quiz results
• In-app and push notifications sent to you, and a device token used to deliver them (cleared immediately if you uninstall the app or delete your account)

3. How we use your information

• To review and approve volunteer applications, and to verify your identity for safety purposes
• To schedule and coordinate patrols, and to know who is on-site during any given session
• To record conservation data — nest locations, egg and hatchling counts, and species observed — which is the core purpose of the program
• To contact you about upcoming patrols, schedule changes, or safety information
• To operate the volunteer feed, notebook, and training features you choose to use
• To keep the app secure and working correctly

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.

4. Who we share information with

We do not share your personal information with third parties for their own purposes. A small number of service providers process data on our behalf, strictly to run the app:

• Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google) — delivers push notifications to your device
• Our email provider — sends account and password-related emails
• Our file storage provider — stores photos you upload (profile photos, patrol photos)

These providers only receive the minimum information needed to perform their function, and are not permitted to use it for any other purpose. We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect the safety of volunteers or the conservation program.

5. How long we keep your information

We keep account and profile information for as long as your account is active. Patrol and conservation data — nest locations, egg/hatchling counts, species records, and patrol attendance — is retained indefinitely, even after an account is deleted, because it is the scientific and safety record the program depends on. See "Deleting your account" below for exactly what is removed versus retained.

6. Your rights

You can review and update most of your profile information at any time from the app's Profile screen. You also have the right to:

• Ask us what personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct inaccurate information
• Delete your account (see below)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in "Contact us" below.

7. Deleting your account

You can delete your account at any time from Profile → Delete account. This is a permanent action. When you delete your account:

• Your name, email, and profile photo are permanently anonymized, and your password is deleted
• Your liability waiver signature, in-app notifications, and private notebook are permanently deleted
• You are signed out of every device immediately
• Your original email address is freed up — nothing prevents you from signing up again later

Patrol logs, nest/sighting records, session attendance, and training results you contributed are kept — they are the conservation program's scientific and safety record, and are no longer linked to your identifying information once your account is anonymized. Posts and comments you made on the team feed also remain (other volunteers may be relying on that conversation), but are shown as posted by "Deleted User" rather than your name.

8. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including encrypted password storage and secure network connections. No system is completely immune to risk, but we take reasonable steps to protect your data and respond quickly to any issue.

9. Children's privacy

Turtle Patrol volunteering involves outdoor, sometimes overnight activity and is intended for adult volunteers. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the program evolves. Continuing to use the app after a change means you accept the updated policy. Significant changes will be communicated in-app.

11. Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data can be directed to privacy@pearlprotectors.org.