Sustainable Oceans & Seafood
Interoperable seafood traceability community connecting catch, aquaculture, processing, trade, and retail data for safer and more sustainable seafood supply chains.
UNTP Implementation Status
-
Planned -
In-Progress -
Pilot -
Operational
The Sustainable Oceans community is anchored in the work of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), a non-profit foundation focused on creating a common language for digital traceability across seafood supply chains.
Seafood supply chains can be long, international, and operationally complex, spanning wild capture, aquaculture, landing, processing, cold chain logistics, import, retail, and food service. The GDST approach supports digital traceability by defining the key data elements and technical formats needed to exchange information across interoperable systems, helping supply-chain partners retain the origin story of seafood from catch or farm through to sale.
The GDST Standard identifies minimum data elements for GDST-compliant seafood supply chains and governs the communications protocols and nomenclature to achieve interoperability and aligns with the GS1 standards.
Within a UNTP implementation context, this community can help seafood stakeholders map GDST-aligned events, identifiers, product data, and sustainability claims into interoperable credentials. This supports more consistent due diligence, stronger market access, better food safety response, and improved visibility of potential risks such as habitat impacts, irresponsible fishing and aquaculture practices, and human welfare.
Pilot Implementations
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Catch-to-Retail Traceability Pilot (2026):
Exchange GDST-aligned catch, landing, processing, and retail events as UNTP-compatible product traceability records, validating data continuity from vessel or farm through buyer systems.
-
Aquaculture Batch Data Exchange Pilot (2026):
Test structured data exchange for farmed seafood production batches, including farm, harvest, processing, feed-related, and certification references required by downstream buyers.
-
Seafood Due Diligence Data Pack Pilot (2027):
Trial a reusable credential package for importers and retailers that combines GDST key data elements, source documentation, and sustainability assertions for procurement and compliance checks.
Not production ready. These credentials are suitable for pilots and evaluation, not for production use, because conformance has not been tested.
Credential Extensions
| Name | Base Credential | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SeafoodProductPassport | DigitalProductPassport | In development |
| FishingTripDeclaration | DigitalTraceabilityEvent | In development |
| AquacultureProductionDeclaration | DigitalFacilityRecord | Planned |
Identifier Schemes
| Name | Status | UNTP register |
|---|---|---|
| GS1 Digital Link | In development | Candidate |
| GS1 Global Trade Item Number | Active | Registered |
| GS1 Global Location Number | Active | Registered |
Conformity Schemes
| Name | Status | UNTP register |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Stewardship Council Chain of Custody | Proposed | Candidate |
| Aquaculture Stewardship Council Chain of Custody | Proposed | Candidate |
| Global Seafood Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) | Proposed | Candidate |
Software Systems
| Name | Status | UNTP register |
|---|---|---|
| GDST Capability Test | Implemented | Candidate |
| GDST Completeness Tool | Implemented | Candidate |
| Seafood EPCIS Gateway | Pilot | Candidate |
These tables are generated from the UNTP Community Activation Register. To change them, change the register entry.
Community Owner
Governance
Partner-led seafood traceability governance supported by the GDST Foundation, Partners Council, Technical Council, and regional Dialogue process. The community brings together seafood businesses, technology providers, NGOs, standard setters, and public-sector stakeholders.