Pacifical becomes first seafood industry platform to pass the new GDST capability test

Pacifical has become the first seafood industry platform to pass the new Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability’s (GDST) capability test.

GDST was established in 2017 as an international platform to create the first global seafood traceability standards. The new capability test verifies if software or online platforms can deliver on promises of GDST compatibility.

Pacifical is a global tuna market development company created to handle the distribution and marketing of Marine Stewardship Council-certified skipjack and yellowfin tuna caught in the exclusive economic zones of the countries belonging to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement. In 2013, Pacifical piloted blockchain technology that enabled full tuna traceability and catch verification. The result in 2021 was a partnership with GDST to beta pilot Pacifical’s IT system called SmarTuna with GDST’s capability test.

Through the test, SmarTuna was verified as capable of sharing data according to the GDST framework, according to Pacifical COO Cynthia Asaf.

“As promoters of fully traceable sustainably caught tuna from the Pacific Island nations, we see this as a revolutionary development and are enormously proud to be the first organization in the global seafood industry to be recognized as GDST-capable,” Asaf said. “We want to provide all retailers and tuna supply chain actors, supporting the GDST initiative, the future ability to be able to receive all relevant traceability data from our fully verified sustainable Pacifical tuna, now in the GDST format. We encourage them to join us in our effort in making large scale interoperable traceability a reality.”

Software tested by the GDST capability test must have the ability to capture all data required by GDST, receive and transmit data in correct GDST formats, and use GDST standardized communications protocol. Any software or online platforms that pass the test can carry the GDST Capable logo that solely verifies the ability of the software to support GDST compliance but does not verify if the company using it is GDST compliant. The logo is valid for the version of software it was tested for; Therefore, any updates will need to be tested again.

“Availability of the first software solutions to earn the GDST-Capable logo represents a major advancement for digital seafood traceability. We now have a realistic way for industry to know if software is capable of fully implementing the GDST standard,” GDST Executive Director Greg Brown said. “It is exciting and encouraging that it has only taken a short time for vendors and industry groups to bring GDST-capable products to market.”

Three technology vendors have also passed the GDST Capability Test: Mabel Systems, Trace Register, and Wholechain.

“Mabel Systems, Trace Register, Wholechain, and Pacifical are the first to prove that they are listening to the seafood industry’s unambiguous demands for GDST capable technology,” Brown said. “They are helping industry meet its commitments to traceability and the eradication of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.”

Photo courtesy of Pacifical