Benefits of traceability in fish supply chains – case studies

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how the seafood industry perceives benefits of traceability implementation. Furthermore, ex ante cost‐benefit analyses (CBAs) of adopting new traceability systems are conducted for two firms, operating at different steps of the seafood supply chains, to obtain preliminary knowledge on the net benefits of the project and on how costs and benefits are distributed among the actors.Design/methodology/approachThis is a case‐based study.FindingsThe surveyed companies perceive improving supply chain management as the most important benefit of traceability. Other benefits are increase of the ability to retain existing customers; product quality improvement; product differentiation; and reduction of customer complaints. However, the quantifiable benefits are perceived differently by the actors at different steps in the supply chains, e.g. implementing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on pallets in the seafood trading company case study shows tangibly quantifiable benefits.Originality/valueThe paper is useful for both practitioners and academics regarding perceived benefits of traceability in fish supply chains. The research provides initial insight into seafood companies' perspectives on the benefits of adopting RFID‐based traceability solutions. The paper suggests that the financial burden of implementing traceability may be borne by the processing firms, while gains are reaped by firms in the distribution business closer to the end consumer. This could provide a partial explanation as to why traceability has been slow to gain ground as a visible value‐adding marketing tool, and is mainly being driven by food safety regulations.

Food Safety Traceability Systems in the Maritime Catering Logistics

“…Reducing production and labor costs ranked the fourth and the fifth respectively as of minor importance. These results agree to some extent with previously reported results [20] [29] [40].…”

“…Folinas [17], Regattieri [18], and Wu et al [19] claimed that due to the emergence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, traceability has become an essential tool for food safety, quality, and tracking within the meat supply chain. Moreover, product quality improvement, need for healthy consumption, reducing risk rate and liability, and brand name protection are among the most common driving forces for traceability system implementation [20]. From a legislative point of view, Engelseth [21] stated that the European Union General Food Law of 2005 required that food and feed business operators identify the immediate supplier of the product in question and the immediate subsequent recipient, which has increased the demand for tractability systems in the foodservice industry.…”

“…Tracking produce and supplies and holding suppliers accountable is critical in ensuring the safety of products onboard. Several recent studies [20] [25] [27]- [30] have contended that there are direct benefits from implementing food traceability systems, including supply chain optimization, enhancing food safety and quality, ensuring product authenticity, complying with food safety legislation, differentiation and competitive business ad-vantages, and responding to specific needs such as consumers with food allergies.…”

“…Therefore, qualitative and quantitative techniques were adopted in the current study. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that is adopted and developed from previous studies [20] [37] [38]. The questionnaire was prepared, piloted, and distributed to all logistics managers and employees of the investigated cruise ships to produce quantitative data for analysis.…”

Pola Distribusi Dan Teknologi Pengelolaan Hasil Tangkapan Pelabuhan Perikanan Di Wilayah Pantura Jawa

“…Untuk itu penerapan konektivitas/ jejaring antar pelabuhan perikanan guna menjamin ketersediaan pasokan ikan dengan pengembangan integrasi sistem informasi antar pelabuhan perikanan terkait dengan pemasaran baik lokal maupun ekspor menjadi penting. Dalam kerangka sistem logistik ikan nasional perhatian terhadap sistem logistik bidang perikanan harus ditingkatkan, karena peningkatan produksi perikanan akan mempunyai pengaruh yang besar dalam meningkatkan perekonomian masyarakat jika diikuti dengan sistem logistik yang baik (Mai et al 2010). Lebih lanjut potensi perikanan yang besar jika dikelola dengan baik dapat dijadikan penopang ketahanan pangan yang efektif (Srinivasan 2010 …”