Through a new collaboration, Australian tuna business JR Simplot Company’s John West brand and Pacific tuna supply chain traceability and verification company Pacifical have begun exchanging data using the GDST (Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability) protocol.
According to the ventures, this arrangement sets a new standard for transparency and sustainability within the tuna industry.
They explained the completion of the beta testing phase saw the transmission of 105 critical tracking events – ranging from fishing and transhipment to discharge and processing – via Pacifical SmarTuna platform to John West’s internal “Trace Our Tuna” site.
This, they said, is “a significant step forward” in ensuring the real-time traceability of tuna products and aligning with the highest global standards.
“Over the years, Simplot, in partnership with Pacifical, has made great progress on our commitment to responsible seafood sourcing practices, to the point that 100% of our skipjack tuna range is certified to the highest standard of sustainability for seafood,” said Phoebe Dowling, head of Simplot Global Food sustainability. “Leading the GDST initiative as part of our long-term collaboration with Pacifical is a logical and beneficial next step in our pioneering approach to sustainability, and we are proud to be part of this pivotal moment in the seafood industry.
“By establishing a reliable two-way data exchange between our systems, we are demonstrating that supply chain data can be seamlessly transferred through robust operating and verification systems, all unified under one common data protocol,” she said. “This achievement positions John West Australia as the world’s first tuna brand to exchange and receive real sustainability and social data for every production code within its entire range of tuna products, based on the GDST protocol.”
Pacifical passed the GDST Full Chain Capability Test on 7 March 2024.
CEO Henk Brus said: “The successful beta testing phase of SmarTuna demonstrates our commitment to excellence in traceability. Through our real-time platform, we have facilitated the smooth transmission of verified critical tracking events, ensuring 100% compliance with GDST protocols and data interoperability across systems.”
