3rd Party Data Licensing

For those not aware, we started 3rd party data licensing a few years ago. We are still unable to disclose much regarding the specifics – i.e., which lakes have been licensed and to whom – but local anglers are pretty smart….we suspect you will know AEM data when you see it. 😉

 

What does this mean for you?

  1. Existing AEM/Lowrance users – no changes here, your existing chips will continue to work so long as Lowrance continues to support the data formats. We have many new lakes in the pipeline (many, many kilometers were logged in 2025), and we hope to release updates at some point in the future. 
  2. Existing AEM/Avenza users – no changes here, our premium maps will remain available on the Avenza Maps app. The Avenza platform is great for us (and our customers) because it allows us to release an individual lake as soon as it is ready. The timeline for Avenza releases is much faster than for our Lowrance compatible chips.     
  3. Other anglers – you may now benefit from mapping derived from premium AEM data when using chartplotters other than Lowrance (and Simrad). We won’t be producing AEM branded map chips that are compatible with other chartplotters, but our data has been made available to 3rd parties to incorporate into their own products. 3rd party mobile apps may also feature AEM data.  If you are an angler partial to a particular brand of chartplotter (or mobile app) and want access to AEM data for a particular body of water, we suggest reaching out to that companies’ customer service department. Get them to contact us directly. No promises, but perhaps we can work something out. Keep in mind that the major sonar companies are global corporations, and most of the people who work for them will have no idea who Angler's Edge Mapping is (or any direct knowledge of the lake maps you are interested in). 
  4. Local Canadian companies/organizations - collecting quality bathymetric data takes a lot of time, money, and expertise.  The time on the water required is significant, post-processing (and the knowledge that only comes with experience) is integral to achieving high-quality products, and the fuel/equipment/logistics cost can add up quickly. "Doing it yourself" often proves to be more work than you bargained for. The good news: if we have surveyed a body of water that you are interested in, we may be willing to license the data to you. Don't hesitate to ask. We are able to provide the robust data needed for academic research, hydraulic modelling, fisheries assessments, infrastructure planning (e.g., where to build a boat launch or marina), etc. at a small fraction of what it would cost  to try to "do it yourself".  Our data can be output in a variety of vector, grid and digital formats so we can cater to your specific workflow needs.        

AEM remains a very niche business, but we are slowly growing. Our ability to offer premium maps of so many amazing bodies of water wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our loyal customers over the past 13 years. So, to everyone who has purchased a chip for their Lowrance unit, a print map for the cottage, or a digital map for an iOS or Android mobile device – thank you! And to those anglers whose catches are about to increase because of 3rd party data licensing – please enjoy responsibly, and always practice selective harvest 😉.