Sharjah has just taken a bold step toward marine sustainability and food security by rolling out the UAE’s very first, fully digital traceability system for fishing operations. In a bid to replace traditional manual monitoring with a smart, data-driven model, the platform was developed jointly by Sharjah Asset Management and Seafood Souq.
A New Era of Transparent Fishing
A distinct QR code is assigned to every fishing vessel by the system and provides instant access to verified details like:
- Licence information
- Type and quantity of the catch
- Species and source
- Complete journey from sea to market
That means all seafood products can now be traced back to where they were caught, adding a new layer of trust for regulators and consumers alike.
Big impact early in the rollout
Since it was first implemented, the system has already:
- Verified over 140,500 kg of seafood
- Tracked 139 registered vessels
- Covered 53 local fish species
- And that data is from just one landing site in Sharjah.
This has brought in an immediate efficiency boost: reduction in time, low operation cost, and quick audits. The digital shift supports marine conservation because it helps to eliminate illegal or unreported fishing.
Expansion across the Emirate
Sharjah plans to extend the system to:
- Hamriyah Fish Landing Site
- Kalba Landing Site
- Eventually, to all other major fish markets and landing areas
By means of it, a unified real-time monitoring network will be established to ensure full transparency throughout the seafood supply chain.
Enhancing the UAE’s Food Security Vision
The new system aligns with the following national priorities:
- Sustainability & responsible fishing
- Smart governance & digital transformation
- Enhancing food safety and consumer confidence
The emirate has led the UAE in digital marine monitoring and is setting a benchmark for the region in terms of traceability, environmental protection, and modern fisheries management.
