diff --git a/apps/api/app/community_importer.py b/apps/api/app/community_importer.py
index b908331..6873dc8 100644
--- a/apps/api/app/community_importer.py
+++ b/apps/api/app/community_importer.py
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ def _auto_publish(session: Session, observation: ExternalObservation) -> bool:
         or
         observation.status not in {"staged", "mapped", "ready"}
         or not observation.source.enabled
-        or observation.fish_external_id is None
         or observation.x is None
         or observation.y is None
         or observation.weight_g is None
@@ -149,7 +148,10 @@ def _auto_publish(session: Session, observation: ExternalObservation) -> bool:
     observation.fish = fish
     observation.waterbody = waterbody
     observation.status = "ready"
-    observation.review_note = "Automatically matched by previously reviewed source aliases"
+    # A07: Describe actual matching method used
+    fish_method = "external_id" if observation.fish_external_id else "name"
+    wb_method = "external_id" if observation.waterbody_external_id else "name"
+    observation.review_note = f"Auto-matched: fish via {fish_method}, waterbody via {wb_method}"
     publish_observation(session, observation)
     return True