diff --git a/src/main/java/org/ecocean/Base.java b/src/main/java/org/ecocean/Base.java
index 648279c74c..e778996199 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/ecocean/Base.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/ecocean/Base.java
@@ -331,6 +331,9 @@ public static Base getByClassnameAndId(Shepherd myShepherd, String className, St
         case "annotations":
             tmp = new Annotation();
             break;
+        case "individuals":
+            tmp = new MarkedIndividual();
+            break;
         default:
             return null;
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/ecocean/MarkedIndividual.java b/src/main/java/org/ecocean/MarkedIndividual.java
index 3e2e0d024b..129701043c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/ecocean/MarkedIndividual.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/ecocean/MarkedIndividual.java
@@ -2122,6 +2122,20 @@ public boolean canUserAccess(HttpServletRequest request) {
         return Collaboration.canUserAccessMarkedIndividual(this, request);
     }
 
+    // view ACL for the generic /api/v3 GET path (see Base.jsonForApiGet). a user may view this
+    // individual if they are an admin or can view at least one of its encounters. an individual
+    // with no encounters grants no view access (rather than being visible to any logged-in user).
+    @Override public boolean canUserView(User user, Shepherd myShepherd) {
+        if (user == null) return false;
+        if (user.isAdmin(myShepherd)) return true;
+        Vector<Encounter> all = this.getEncounters();
+        if ((all == null) || all.isEmpty()) return false;
+        for (Encounter enc : all) {
+            if (enc.canUserView(user, myShepherd)) return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     // see note on Base class
     public List<String> userIdsWithViewAccess(Shepherd myShepherd) {
         List<String> ids = new ArrayList<String>();
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/ecocean/api/BaseObject.java b/src/main/java/org/ecocean/api/BaseObject.java
index bfda345ed9..81a2ffc916 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/ecocean/api/BaseObject.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/ecocean/api/BaseObject.java
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ protected JSONObject processGet(HttpServletRequest request, String[] args)
         try {
             User currentUser = myShepherd.getUser(request);
             Base obj = null;
-            if (args.length > 0) obj = Base.getByClassnameAndId(myShepherd, args[0], args[1]);
+            if ((args.length > 1) && Util.stringExists(args[1]))
+                obj = Base.getByClassnameAndId(myShepherd, args[0], args[1]);
             if (obj == null) {
                 rtn.put("statusCode", 404);
                 rtn.put("error", "not found");