Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains one of the most serious challenges facing the global seafood industry. For tuna, the supply chain spans multiple oceans, dozens of vessels, transshipment points, and processing facilities before a product reaches a retailer’s shelf. That complexity creates gaps where fraudulent or non-compliant catch can enter the market undetected. A tuna digital product passport addresses this by converting raw supply chain data into a verifiable, accessible record that travels with every batch. Here are five concrete ways this approach reduces the risk of illegal fishing.
Why illegal fishing is a tuna supply chain crisis
IUU fishing accounts for a significant share of global catch, and tuna is among the most commercially targeted species. When illegally caught tuna enters legitimate supply chains, it undercuts compliant fisheries, distorts market prices, and exposes brands to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Authorities in the EU and the US have strengthened import controls, meaning companies could face shipment rejections or legal liability without documented proof of origin and legality.
The core problem is verification. Paper-based documentation is easy to falsify, post-processing records often omit what happened at sea, and data scattered across multiple stakeholders is difficult to consolidate into a coherent audit trail. A tuna digital product passport changes that by anchoring traceability to the first mile and making data accessible at every downstream stage.
1: First-mile data capture closes the traceability gap
Most traceability systems start at the processing plant, leaving the riskiest part of the supply chain—what happened at sea—largely undocumented. Satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) provide continuous location and activity records while vessels are still at sea. At port discharge, a unique Raw Material ID is assigned to each batch, digitally linking that product to its source vessel, catch location, and on-water conditions before processing begins.
For brands and retailers sourcing tuna across multiple oceans, this pre-processing verification means they take ownership of a product with a documented history already in place. The traceability gap that IUU catch typically exploits is closed before the fish ever reaches a facility.
2: Automated database checks flag IUU vessels instantly
By pulling data from more than 15 regulatory and certification sources—including RFMO registries, the ISSF Positive Vessel Register, PSMA port lists, EU-approved facility databases, and IUU blacklists—a digital traceability platform can validate vessel status at the point of data entry. If a vessel appears on a blacklist or lacks required certifications, the system flags it before that catch is assigned a product code or moves further along the supply chain.
Rather than relying on supplier declarations alone, processors and trading companies gain independently verified vessel status tied directly to each batch record.
3: Unique batch IDs make mislabeling detectable
Seafood mislabeling is one of the most common ways non-compliant product enters the market under a legitimate label. When a Raw Material ID is assigned at port discharge and carried through processing, packing, and distribution, every transformation is recorded against that original source record. If the volume, species composition, or certification status of a finished product does not match what the batch ID documents, that inconsistency becomes detectable during an audit or regulatory inspection.
For processors and brands working across multiple product formats—canned tuna, loins, and pouches—this batch-level traceability means sourcing claims can be traced back to a specific vessel, fishing event, and catch condition.
4: What does forced labor detection look like at sea?
Forced labor on fishing vessels often co-occurs with IUU fishing, as vessels operating outside regulatory oversight may also subject crews to exploitative conditions. Satellite analytics, electronic monitoring (EM) data, and human observer reports can be combined to identify behavioral patterns associated with forced labor risk—such as unusually long trips without port calls or vessel-to-vessel transfers that obscure crew movements.
When this data is integrated into each batch’s digital traceability record alongside social-compliance certifications like SMETA, BSCI/Amfori, the FISH Standard for Crew, and Fair Trade USA, it provides a multilayered picture of labor conditions. Linking labor-rights evidence to every Raw Material ID means each product carries verifiable worker-welfare proof, not just a supplier’s assurance.
5: Traceability code-accessible passports build retailer and consumer trust
A tuna digital product passport becomes most powerful when its data is accessible to those who need it most: retailers making sourcing decisions, regulators conducting import checks, and consumers choosing products on a shelf. When a consumer uses a traceability code, they can access verified information about where the fish was caught, which vessel caught it, and what certifications apply. For retailers, the same data supports audit-ready documentation without manual assembly.
The platform is built on GS1 EPCIS and is fully GDST-compatible, meaning data can be shared consistently across supply chain partners without format conflicts. As regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s seafood traceability requirements continue to evolve, verified product information via a traceability code is becoming a practical market differentiator.
Turn traceability into your strongest risk defense
Each of the five mechanisms above contributes to a layered defense that makes it significantly harder for IUU catch to enter or move through a supply chain undetected. When data is captured at sea, verified automatically, and tied to a unique batch identifier that travels with the product, the gaps that illegal fishing exploits become much narrower.
How SmarTuna helps with tuna supply chain risk reduction
SmarTuna provides a digital traceability and verification platform built specifically for these challenges. Starting from the first mile, the platform delivers:
- Real-time vessel tracking via satellite VMS and AIS, with forced labor risk pattern detection
- Unique Raw Material IDs assigned at port discharge, linking origin, composition, and verification criteria to every batch
- Automated checks against 15+ regulatory and certification databases, including IUU blacklists and RFMO registries
- Integration of social-compliance certifications and labor-rights evidence directly into each batch record
- Support for traceability code-accessible Digital Product Passports, built on GS1 EPCIS and fully GDST-compatible
- Automated completion of EU CATCH, US SIMP, and FSMA forms to streamline regulatory reporting
Every product code becomes a verifiable story covering legality, environmental impact, and social conditions. To see how the platform addresses your specific traceability requirements, explore SmarTuna’s solutions and schedule a demonstration.