> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.scoutbuoy.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.scoutbuoy.org/welcome-to-scout.md).

# Welcome to Scout

<figure><img src="/files/AOQHWm5bTAXOxrcpDxWJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Scout is smart buoy and app designed to help entanglement teams relocate tagged animals more quickly and reduce the amount of drag on the animal from the buoy. Scout is just one of many tools entanglement teams use.

The purpose of this guide is to provide all the details you need to operate and maintain your Scout.

### Acknowledgements

Scout is a project by The Nature Conservancy.

There are many people that have contributed to Scout over the years. They are a mix of large organizations and individuals.&#x20;

[The Nature Conservancy](https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/california/stories-in-california/advancing-conservation-through-technology/?vu=r.v_conservationtech.local.na.ca) (Matt Merrifield, Aliya Rubenstien, Paige Berube, Tom Dempsey, Falk Schuetzenmeister, Natty Rindlaub, Henry Jue)

[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/large-whale-entanglement-response) (NOAA) (Sarah Wilkins, Steve Manley, Ed Lyman, Justin Vizbieke, Michael Milstein)

[Blue World Research Institute](https://bwri.org/) (Jamison Smith)

[Level 2 Industries](https://l2industries.com/) (Greg Pronko, Mike O'Reilly)

[Marine Life Studies](https://www.marinelifestudies.org/) (Peggy Stap, Stephanie Marcos)

[Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute](https://www.mbari.org/) (MBARI) (Brian Kieft, Chris Wahl)

[Sealife Response, Rehab, and Research](https://www.sealifer3.org/) (SR3) (James Powell)

[The Splash Lab](https://splashlab.org/) (Tad Truscott, Jamel Patton)

[Cascadia Research Collective](https://cascadiaresearch.org/) (Doug Sandilands)

[IDEO](https://www.ideo.com/)

### Contacts

Technical Help - <scout@tnc.org>

Website - <https://www.scoutbuoy.org>


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.scoutbuoy.org/welcome-to-scout.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
