Knowing where your seafood comes from is essential for sustainability and making informed choices as a consumer. Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, also known as the ‘Turtle Sheikh,’ emphasizes the importance of traceability in the seafood industry. As the co-founder and chief impact officer of Seafood Souq, a digital platform for global seafood trade and traceability, Sheikh Fahim believes that traceability is the precursor to sustainability because it allows for measurement and improvement in the supply chain.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Sheikh Fahim highlighted the need for transparency in the seafood supply chain. He pointed out that seafood supply chains are often opaque, and increasing transparency is crucial for protecting marine biodiversity. Seafood Souq provides traceability tools for fisheries, processors, distributors, hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants to shed light on the origin of seafood products. By knowing where seafood comes from, consumers can make better choices and contribute to protecting the oceans.
Sheikh Fahim mentioned that Atlantis, Dubai, is already using Seafood Souq’s technology solutions to trace the sources of their seafood, ensuring consumers’ protection and sustainable sourcing practices. The SFS Trace software solution provides insights into the quality, freshness, and source of seafood products by tracking data at every stage of the supply chain, from sea to plate. This level of traceability benefits both consumers and the seafood industry.
The Emirati entrepreneur’s vision goes beyond traceability; he aims to digitize the UAE’s seafood economy and empower local fishing communities. With about 6,000 fishing boats in the UAE, Sheikh Fahim wants to increase the value of local catch, protect UAE’s seafood brand, and promote sustainable sourcing practices. Seafood Souq operates on a global level as one of the five firms using the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability framework, which will become a mandatory requirement for seafood imports into the US by 2026.
Seafood Souq has already digitized a significant portion of South Africa’s Pole and Line Tuna fisheries and aims to expand its digital solutions across all seven emirates of the UAE and beyond. The technology developed by the company provides economic, social, and environmental benefits by enhancing product value, reducing wastage, and increasing income for fishermen. Better traceability could potentially boost global seafood profits by 60%, according to a UK-based think tank Planet Tracker.
Sheikh Fahim emphasized the importance of being good stewards of the oceans, as fish is a valuable food source extracted from the Earth. By utilizing data, AI, and technology to digitize the seafood industry, the economic, social, and environmental goals can be achieved. The UAE values its seafood economy at about Dh1.8 billion, making it crucial to invest in technology solutions that promote sustainability and responsible seafood sourcing practices globally.
