The ability to trace fish and seafood is a growing requirement of buyers and governments. Some countries require proof that fish and seafood imports are not from illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries, and most certification schemes have chain of custody requirements to ensure the integrity of certified products throughout the supply chain.

Traceability increases transparency and accountability in the seafood supply chain by ensuring that information such as how and where fish are caught follows the fish from boat to plate. The ability to share information along the seafood supply chain reduces the risk of seafood fraud and helps prevent illegally caught product from entering the market.