More than half of the world’s tuna originates from the Pacific Ocean, yet these fisheries are under severe threat due to depleted stocks and rampant illegal fishing. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a significant risk to marine biodiversity, the sustainability of marine ecosystems, and fish populations globally.
A promising solution to this problem is the use of blockchain technology, which can track tuna from the moment it’s caught. This technology ensures that no illegal or unreported tuna enters the market. Imagine scanning a pack of fish with your smartphone and instantly knowing the entire journey of that tuna steak—from ‘bait to plate’—including when, where, and which boat caught it.
This is now possible thanks to new technology being trialed in the Pacific islands. Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize tuna fishing, making illegal fishing impossible, protecting fish stocks, and allowing consumers to be certain that the fish on their plate is sustainably sourced.
The situation is critical. More than half of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific Ocean, and tuna fisheries are at a crossroads. The Pacific bluefin tuna is heavily overfished, with its biomass at near historically low levels, indicating severe depletion.
IUU fishing exacerbates the decline in fish stocks, threatening marine biodiversity and ecosystem balance. In 2019, the estimated IUU catch in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean was valued at up to $1.5 billion, with illegal catches of various tuna species amounting to $548 million annually. Without improved traceability and effective measures against illegal fishing, fishery declines will continue.
Blockchain technology offers a way to combat illegal activities, helping tuna stocks recover and benefiting fisheries worldwide. It tracks the journey of each fish, recording information on where it was caught and processed. This data, once entered into the system, is verified by a network of computers, making it impossible to alter or falsify.
In the Pacific Island tuna industry, initial trials involved collaborations with technology companies and tuna fishing and processing firms to eliminate illegal fishing and labor abuses. The success of these trials led to the development of a scalable platform solution to verify and trace large quantities of seafood, and it is now expanding to other food products.
If fully implemented, blockchain would make it impossible for illegal or unreported tuna to enter the market. The technology’s immutability and tamper-proof nature offer a reliable means of verification and validation, enabling retailers and buyers to trace the origin of their fish. Eventually, blockchain could become the industry standard for transparency and traceability, empowering consumers to make informed, sustainable, and ethical choices.
Comments