Sustainable Seafood and Traceability
Posted on | August 28, 2010 | No Comments
Traceability may not sound like the most interesting topic. But in truth, it is an exciting emerging component of sustainable seafood. SOP defines traceability and explores its benefits and uses.
The tangled web we weave
Traceability is a process and system to track seafood (or any other product) through the supply chain. Think of it as if every fish or box of fish has its own bar code that can be scanned to access tracking data. In an ideal setting, one could use the system to follow a fish’s journey from the waters where it was caught to the retailer or restaurant where it is being sold. Knowing this information can help increase food safety, decrease illegal fishing, and promote sustainability.
There are several benefits to using a functional traceability system throughout the supply chain. Seafood suppliers are actually seeing their profits go up. While there are initial costs (e.g., new technologies/programs, staff training), the payoff comes in the form of higher customer retention and quicker turnover of fresh seafood. People increasingly like to know where their seafood is coming from, especially if it is local. The bottom line is this openness and transparency translates into more sales.
Traceability is a key component of business for seafood retailers and certifiers. Online sustainable seafood retailer, i love blue sea, highlights its importance on its website. Also, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification organization makes traceability a cornerstone of its program. In an industry wrought with fraud and species substitution, MSC’s reputation rides on the confidence of knowing the fish you buy comes from the fishery it certified as sustainable. A recent independent investigation using 240 DNA samples from MSC-certified fish in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan showed no mislabeling of fish.
With technology that exists today, the future of traceability is wide open. For example, companies can build programs where one can break out his or her smart phone, scan a fish or seafood product at the grocery store, and find out the fisherman who caught it and from where. SOP will continue to report on traceability as new applications and benefits materialize.
Tags: fisheries > i love blue sea > Marine Stewardship Council > seafood > sustainable > traceability
Related Posts
Comments
Leave a Reply
What we do...
Sustainable Ocean Project (SOP) brings you inspiring stories and easy to understand information about a growing sustainable and local seafood movement that we all should be a part of.
Follow this blog
Through email:
Through a reader:
Admin
