Trace tuna supply chains seamlessly and tamper-proof
Sector: Primary sector · Industry: Fisheries · Organisation: TraSeable project consortium · Maturity level: Pilot
The TraSeable project consortium piloted a blockchain-based traceability system combining RFID tags, sensors, QR codes, and a mobile application in the Fijian tuna fishery. The initiative aimed to capture immutable provenance, chain-of-custody, and handling records from the catch point through to end consumers. Through this deployment, the consortium established verifiable transparency to support legal and sustainable fishing standards.
Documentation status
- Project status: Pilot (as of 01 January 2025) — The pilot trial in Fiji was successfully conducted and documented in a scientific journal publication.
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: pending
Description
The TraSeable project consortium implemented a method in Fiji for complete recording of tuna supply chains using blockchain technology. Individual fish are tagged with RFID immediately after being caught, while sensors and mobile devices capture relevant transport data. This provides wholesalers, processors and consumers with reliable insights into the origin and handling of the seafood.
As part of the pilot study in Fiji, the TraSeable project consortium developed an end-to-end tracking system linking hardware components such as RFID transponders and sensors with a mobile software solution. Fish-specific parameters are recorded immediately upon catch and cryptographically stored on a distributed ledger. Along the subsequent processing chain, QR codes and sensor data document every change of ownership and relevant environmental conditions. This prevents subsequent data manipulation and protects the supply chain’s integrity against fraud attempts. The practical trial demonstrates the feasibility of digital seamless proof even under the demanding conditions of Pacific deep-sea fishing.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
B2B partners such as processors, exporters and supermarket chains can access tamper-proof catch and freshness certificates via standardised interfaces. This speeds up customs clearance, minimises recall risks and strengthens trust between international trade partners.
B2C — consumers perspective
Consumers can trace the tuna’s journey from the fishing zone to the sales shelf transparently on their smartphones via QR codes printed on the product packaging.
Employees perspective
Ship crews and warehouse workers record stocks using mobile handheld devices and scanners instead of handwritten catch logs. This reduces administrative effort afterwards but requires a user-friendly interface and reliable hardware at sea.
Benefits
General
- Forgery-proof proof of catch location and method
- Enhanced transparency throughout the entire cold and supply chain
- Reduction of documentation effort through digital recording
B2B — organisations
- Greater negotiating power through certified quality proof
- Efficient auditing for regulatory and private labels
B2C — consumers
- Guaranteed product authenticity at the point of sale
- Increased credibility of sustainable consumer choices
Employees
- Elimination of manual paper recording on board
- Faster handover processes to processing companies
Challenges
General
- Limited network connectivity on the open sea for direct data synchronization
- Harsh maritime environmental conditions for electronic sensors and tags
B2B — organisations
- Integration effort into existing ERP and inventory management systems
Employees
- Training requirements for non-technical ship personnel
Technology foundation
The solution relies on a decentralised blockchain architecture combined with the Internet of Things (IoT), including RFID tags, environmental sensors and dynamic QR codes. This technological linkage ensures that physical goods on board and along the logistics chain can be uniquely identified and recorded condition data can be cryptographically stored immutably.
Implementation examples
TraSeable Tuna Traceability Pilot Fiji
The Pacific tuna fishery suffers from risks due to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as a lack of transparency for processing companies and international exporters.
The TraSeable project consortium implemented a pilot solution for seamless traceability of tuna in Fiji using RFID, IoT sensors and mobile apps.
In this pilot project, the TraSeable project consortium tested an integrated blockchain system for the Fijian tuna industry. Through the combination of physical RFID tags on the fish, temperature and environmental sensors, and QR codes for subsequent stages, the entire chain from catch to final marketing was digitally recorded. The involved actors used a customised mobile app to verify the data on site, creating a tamper-proof proof of catch legality and compliance with the cold chain.
Protection against forgery of origin certificates, closing documentation gaps at sea and reliable handover between changing actors.
Tags
Supply chain, IoT, Traceability, Sustainability, Fisheries