Digital Traceability Framework Launched to Transform India's Fisheries and Aquaculture
SDG 14: Life Below Water | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Department of Fisheries | Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) | Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
The Department of Fisheries has released the National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture (2025), a transformative initiative to establish a unified national digital traceability system. This initiative is crucial given India’s role as a top global fish producer and leading seafood exporter, supporting over 30 million livelihoods. The Framework is supported by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
The need for this unified system stems from widespread fragmentation, manual record-keeping, and complexity across India’s diverse value chains (marine, inland, and aquaculture). These inadequacies currently lead to export rejections, hamper timely crisis response (like product recalls), and undermine consumer confidence due to non-verifiable documentation.
The digital system’s design is data-driven and digital-first , leveraging advanced technologies to bridge compliance gaps and meet stringent import regulations from key markets like the European Union and the United States.
Key Features and Technology
The system requires recording data at predefined Critical Tracking Events (CTEs), such as fishing, landing, harvesting, processing, and export. At each CTE, Key Data Elements (KDEs)—including species, location (via GPS), batch numbers, and temperature logs—must be digitally captured and linked to unique identifiers.
The IT-based system, to be developed on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), will leverage:
Blockchain technology for maintaining immutable, tamper-proof records, especially for export consignments.
IoT devices and sensors in farms and cold chains to automatically record water quality and temperature.
QR Codes/Barcodes/RFID tags for unique product identification (Unique Trade Unit Identifier - UTUI) and consumer-facing transparency.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and GPS to deter Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and verify legal catch origins.
Implementation and Inclusivity
The Framework will be rolled out in six distinct phases, culminating in a National Level Scale-Up. A key principle is Inclusivity. To address the challenges faced by small-scale fishers and farmers—who often lack digital literacy and access to infrastructure—the system will feature simplified, vernacular-language interfaces, offline functionality, and assisted data entry options. The initial development is funded by PM-MKSSY, ensuring the cost does not place a disproportionate burden on small-scale operators.
The Framework is a comprehensive governance reform that aligns with India’s Digital India and Blue Economy policies, promoting data-driven decision-making and simplifying compliance to enhance the Ease of Doing Business in the sector. By achieving tamper-proof traceability and enhancing product credibility, it strategically elevates India’s position as a reliable supplier of safe and sustainable seafood in the international marketplace.
What is a Critical Tracking Event (CTE) in the fisheries value chain?→ A Critical Tracking Event (CTE) is a designated point in the fisheries or aquaculture value chain where a product undergoes movement or transformation, such as landing, harvesting, processing, or packaging. At these mandatory checkpoints, the corresponding custodian (e.g., fisher, auctioneer, processor) must digitally record specific Key Data Elements (KDEs) to ensure the product’s continuous, verifiable history for both backward traceability (origin in case of recalls) and forward traceability (to the consumer).
What is PM-MKSSY?→ The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) is a Central Sector Sub-Scheme launched under the overarching Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and is aimed at directly improving the income and market access opportunities for India’s fishers and fish farmers across the country. Supported by international partners like the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the scheme focuses on several key interventions, most notably leading the development and deployment of a national digital traceability system. This traceability component, funded under PM-MKSSY, is crucial for strengthening market linkages, enabling compliance with national and international standards, and promoting transparency for producers, especially through product differentiation and certification. The Yojana also facilitates inclusive participation by tailoring digital tools and financial support mechanisms for small-scale fishers and Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Follow the full news here: National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture 2025