Blockchain for Sustainable Fisheries Management and Traceability Systems

Abstract

The world's fisheries play a significant role in food security, livelihood, and world trade. However, governance, biodiversity and economic sustainability are compromised by overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and murky supply chains. Traditional traceability tools lack transparency and real-time verification, which slows enforcement and makes it difficult to effectively enforce policy and build consumer confidence. New technologies such as blockchain hold promise for transforming the seafood supply chain, providing a decentralized, transparent, and blockchain-based way to share data across the value chain. This study aims to explore the potential of using blockchain technology, sensors, and smart contracts in the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve fisheries management and traceability. The results show that blockchain has the potential to greatly enhance traceability, compliance, and stakeholder trust when tested through prototype simulations, stakeholder interviews, and technology evaluations. Standardization, cost, scalability, and uptake issues still exist. The measures needed to address these challenges are discussed, and a roadmap for the wider application of blockchain for sustainable fisheries is provided.