Product Tracing in the Norwegian Fishing Industry Supply Chain Utilizing GoQuorum Blockchain and Smart Contracts

Abstract

The Norwegian fishing industry faces a significant issue of fishery crimes, with product traceability systems presenting a potential solution to counter these illegal activities. Current supply chain management in the seafood industry is vulnerable to information alterations, thereby complicating product traceability. Blockchain technology, with its unique properties, offers an interesting approach to address these challenges. Despite this, existing blockchain-based product traceability systems often fail to integrate government regulation and provide limited access to traceability data for consumers. Moreover, those providing such access often lack user-friendliness. This thesis explores if a blockchain-based product traceability system can support supply chain management, enhance consumer confidence, and enforce regulatory compliance. We conducted a review of existing literature and assessed the potential of blockchain technology to optimize supply chain management. Furthermore, a traceability system, entitled SeaChain, incorporating a permissioned blockchain, smart contracts, and governmental regulations was developed. We evaluated this system and compared it with existing systems. Our findings suggest that blockchain technology can enhance supply chain management, bolster consumer trust, and aid in mitigating fishery crimes. The research conducted provides valuable insights for improving supply chain management and contributes to future studies in this field.