Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 8, 2026

Introduction

Welcome to PondBase ("we," "us," or "our"). PondBase helps you record, visualize, and analyze pond and fish data. Your privacy matters. By using PondBase, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Data We Collect

1) Information you provide

• Contacting Us: If you email us via the in-app "Contact Us" link, that message is sent through your device's own Mail app — PondBase does not capture, store, or transmit your name or email address.
• Pond & Fish Content: Pond names, GPS coordinates you select, pond zones, tagged fish records (species, length, weight, tag number), catch dates, notes, and photos you choose to attach.
• Map Annotations: Lines, text labels, and placemark icons you add.

2) Purchases & identifiers

• Subscriptions via RevenueCat: an app-specific user ID, purchase receipts, and device/app metadata needed to manage entitlements.

3) Usage & diagnostics

• Analytics (TelemetryDeck): privacy-friendly product interaction events (e.g., screen views, feature usage) without personal content. TelemetryDeck analytics operate independently of the system-level "Share iPhone Analytics" toggle. To limit analytics collection, contact us via the address below.
• Crash/Performance Logs: automatic diagnostics to find and fix issues.
• Technical Error Events: when something fails to save or sync, we record a short technical description (e.g., which feature and error type) to help us fix the problem. This does not include your pond or fish data.

4) Photos

• Photos are added via iOS PhotosPicker. We do not scan your library; you explicitly pick images to attach.
• If iCloud sync is enabled, photos you attach to catch records — along with saved pond map images — are synced to your personal iCloud account via Apple's CloudKit, the same way your other pond data syncs.

5) Location

• Device Location: If you grant location permission, your coordinates are used to center the map. When map tiles or in-app location search are used, coordinates you view or search are sent to Mapbox to render the map and resolve search results.
• Pond Coordinates: You choose pond coordinates; they are stored as part of your data and sent to Mapbox only to render tiles or perform searches you request.
• Map Telemetry: Mapbox collects location and device data for analytics purposes to operate and improve its mapping service. You can opt out of this at any time using the telemetry control inside the map's attribution button.

6) State / Region Setting

PondBase may allow you to voluntarily select your state, region, or indicate that you are outside the United States. This setting is optional.

We use this information to better understand the general geographic areas where PondBase is being used, improve app features, prioritize regional fish species, improve measurement and weather defaults, and guide future product development.

PondBase does not use this setting to determine your exact location. We do not collect your street address, city, GPS location, or precise location from this setting. We do not link this information to you.

Where PondBase uses analytics, the selected state or region may be included as a general, non-precise usage signal. This information is used only to understand broad app usage trends and improve PondBase. It is not sold, rented, or used for third-party advertising.

You may change or remove your selected state or region at any time in Settings.

Where Your Data Lives (CloudKit & Local Storage)

• On-device: Your data is stored in the app's local database.
• iCloud / CloudKit (if enabled): Your data syncs to your personal iCloud account using Apple's CloudKit. Apple stores it encrypted in transit and at rest. By default, your private iCloud data isn't visible to us.
• Sharing: If you share a pond (CloudKit sharing), invited participants can access shared items you choose to share. Once data is shared, those participants may be able to copy or save it outside the app; please share only with trusted individuals.

How We Use Your Data

• App functionality: store, display, and organize your pond records, charts, and maps.
• Sync/Backup: keep your data available across your devices with iCloud (if enabled).
• Weather: when you request weather for a selected pond, its coordinates are sent to a weather API to fetch a forecast.
• Sun & Moon Data: when you view astronomy information for a pond, its coordinates are sent to the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) API to fetch sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset times.
• Mapping: map coordinates are sent to Mapbox to render the map you're viewing.
• Purchases: validate and manage subscriptions (RevenueCat / App Store).
• Analytics & diagnostics: understand feature usage and improve stability.
• Notifications: schedule and deliver local notifications for reminders you set.
• Exports: if you export your data, the resulting file leaves app protection and is your responsibility once saved or shared.
• We may use optional state or region information to:
  • Understand where PondBase is being used at a broad geographic level.
  • Improve regional app features, fish species support, measurement defaults, and reports.
  • Help prioritize future updates and product improvements.

Third Parties We Use

• Apple iCloud / CloudKit: sync and storage tied to your Apple ID.
• RevenueCat: subscription management (purchase receipts, app/user identifiers).
• TelemetryDeck: privacy-friendly analytics (no personal content).
• Mapbox: powers in-app mapping (tile rendering and, if enabled, location search). Mapbox's own privacy disclosures indicate it collects location and device identifiers for analytics purposes to improve its mapping service, in addition to app functionality. You can opt out of this data collection using the telemetry control in the map's attribution button.
• OpenWeather: receives selected pond coordinates to return weather forecasts.
• U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) API: receives selected pond coordinates to return sun and moon data (sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset). This is a free U.S. government public API; no account or personal data is required.

We do not use third-party advertising SDKs.

Sharing, Selling, and Advertising

• We do not sell your personal information.
• We do not share data for cross-app advertising or third-party targeted ads.
• We may disclose information if required by law or to protect rights and safety.
• In a merger or acquisition, data may transfer; we will notify users of material changes.

Data Retention & Deletion

• Your content stays on your devices and in iCloud (if enabled) until you delete it.
• You can delete items individually in the app.
• To remove iCloud data for PondBase: iOS Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Apps Using iCloud → PondBase → Delete Data.
• Deleting the app does not automatically delete iCloud data; remove it via Settings as above.
• You can also request deletion assistance via the contact options below.

Your Choices & Rights

• Access/Correction/Deletion: manage your content in the app; contact us for help.
• iCloud: toggle PondBase iCloud sync in iOS Settings.
• Analytics: TelemetryDeck analytics run independently of iOS system toggles. Contact us to request data removal.
• Map Telemetry: use the telemetry control in the map's attribution button to opt out of Mapbox analytics collection.
• Notifications: manage permissions in Settings → Notifications → PondBase.
• Exports: manage or delete exported files via PondBase, the Files app, or any destination you chose at export time.

International Notices

• GDPR (EEA/UK): You may have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict, port, or object. Legal bases we rely on include performance of a contract (providing the app), legitimate interests (improving the app), and your consent (notifications).
• CCPA/CPRA (California): We do not sell personal information. You may request to know or delete categories of data we process about you.

Security

We use reasonable technical measures (e.g., transport encryption) to protect data. No system is perfectly secure. Keep your device and iCloud account protected (e.g., passcode and two-factor authentication).

Children's Privacy

PondBase is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them. If you believe a child under 13 has provided information, contact us to request deletion.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. We will post updates in the app and/or on our website with a new "Last updated" date.

What We Collect at a Glance

Contact Us

Email: privacy@pondbasemax.com

Mailing Address: PO Box 12345, Your City, ST 00000, USA