Albion Farms & Fisheries, a large seafood distributor in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, recently teamed up with two technology firms to trace its wild salmon.
Albion’s partnership with San Francisco-based Pelagic Data Systems (PDS) and ThisFish, a Vancouver-based global traceability system, provides a real-time tracking and traceability system for its salmon fleet in B.C.’s North Coast.
“A number of our fishing vessels now have the ability to independently track and collect fishing data along with a unique traceable lot code,” said Guy Dean, vice president and chief sustainability officer of Albion. “Consumers and buyers will know exactly where the fish was caught, the date it was caught, how it was caught, the fishing vessel, and the skipper. The technology even records the temperature inside a vessel’s hold to ensure top quality.”
Pelagic Data Systems outfitted several salmon boats with its solar-powered vessel tracking system, which records the vessel’s location, fishing activity and storage temperature. The data is transmitted via cellular network to Pelagic’s online platform.
Then, when fish is landed at port, catch data is uploaded to ThisFish, which generates a unique scannable label with a QR code that allows chefs and consumers to trace the origins of their fish. Pelagic Data Systems and ThisFish can then cross-check data to ensure accurate reporting, according to Albion.
“By partnering with ThisFish and Pelagic Data Systems, Albion Farms & Fisheries has implemented a unique real-time track-and-trace system directly from our hook-and-line troll fleet to our white tablecloth consumers and high-end retailers,” Dean said.
Albion has a longstanding relationship with a fleet of independent king, chinook and coho salmon trollers based in the North Coast of British Columbia. The trollers quickly freeze the fish at sea to ensure sashimi- grade quality, according to Albion.
