Digital technologies for traceability and transparency in the global fish supply chains: a systematic review and future directions

Ensuring sustainability and ethical practices in global fish supply chains requires robust implementation of digital technologies that conform to traceability and transparency policies in the fisheries industry. This paper provides an in-depth review of 27 impactful studies published from 2008 to 2024, examining how digital technologies enhance fish supply chain traceability to inform effective global fisheries policies. The review identifies three key research streams: (1) enabling technologies such as blockchain and Internet of Things; (2) critical traceability parameters for transparency, including fraud prevention and consumer trust; and (3) sustainability benefits, such as enhanced regulatory compliance and cold-chain efficiency. By mapping gaps in current research, this study establishes a future research and policy agenda and underscores the transformative potential of digital innovations in sustainable fish supply chain governance. Policymakers are encouraged to utilise these technologies to create strong frameworks that ensure transparent data sharing and compliance verification among all supply chain participants in order to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, promote sustainability, and safeguard human rights in fisheries. Although the focus of this paper is on fish supply chains, findings and recommendations may apply to traceability and transparency in other supply chains aiming for sustainable operations.