GDST News

GDST Announces SFS Trace has achieved ''GDST-capable'' status

San Francisco, CA – June 11, 2023 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) announced today that SFS Trace has successfully passed the GDST Capability Test. SFS Trace is a bespoke Seafood Traceability solution provider started in the UAE that is now serving over 40 markets and growing worldwide. Its clients include stakeholders at all levels of the seafood supply chain from fishery, farm and processor through to retailers and the hospitality industry. The GDST Capability Test is an online platform that allows businesses to verify whether a specific software solution can deliver on promises of compatibility with the GDST digital interoperable traceability standard. Software product versions that pass this test are eligible to carry the “GDST Capable” logo.

GDST ANNOUNCES THE FISHING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA HAS ACHIEVED “GDST-CAPABLE” STATUS

San Francisco, CA – April 18, 2023

The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) announced today that the Fishing Industry Association of Papua & New Guinea (FIA PNG) version of iFIMS software has successfully passed the GDST Capability Test.  The GDST Capability Test is an online platform that allows businesses to verify whether software solutions can deliver on their promises of compatibility with the GDST interoperable traceability standard.  Software products that pass this test are eligible to carry the “GDST Capable” logo.

We, the Fishing Industry Association of Papua and New Guinea (FIA PNG), are thrilled that our version of the iFIMS (Fisheries Information Management System) has passed the GDST Capability Test.  As a vertically integrated Tuna harvesting operation in the Western Central Pacific Ocean; it is important that this complex fishery be recognized as GDST capable.” said Marcelo Hidalgo, the Sustainability & CSR Director of FIA PNG

The ‘GDST-Capable’ logo is awarded to software that is capable of fully implementing the GDST Standard” said Greg Brown, Executive Director of the GDST. “It’s exciting to see another key player in the Tuna sector, FIA PNG, make this important step towards enhanced transparency and assurance against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.”

The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) is a Partnership and participation organization dedicated to advancing the standardization and adoption of Interoperable Traceability throughout fishery and aquaculture supply chains around the world through its global traceability standard (GDST 1.1) governing information content and data formats for seafood traceability systems.   Interoperable traceability provides operational efficiency, manages and mitigates risk, provides easy and certain access to Food Safety recall and certification information, communicates product provenance and facilitates global market access.  Learn more at www.thegdst.org.

Media contact: info@traceability-dialogue.org

Seafood Expo Global News

April 14, 2023 - The GDST will be involved in several events at the upcoming Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona. Please join us to learn more.

Important New U.S. Food Traceability Regulations Reenforce the Relevance of GDST Standards

November 21, 2022 - New regulations just published under Section 204 of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act GDST are going to impose substantial additional requirements on traceability and record-keeping obligations for nearly all seafood produced for sale in the United States.  The regulations take an approach to "event-based" traceability that is closely aligned with the GDST standards, which means that companies implementing GDST will have a head-start in preparing to comply with the new rules.

GDST Announces First Software Products To Achieve “GDST-Capable” Recognition

October 18, 2022 - The GDST announced today that three technology vendors and one seafood industry platform have developed the first software products to be verified as capable of fully implementing the GDST standards.  The software solutions--independently developed by Mabel Systems, Trace Register, Wholechain, and Pacifical--have successfully passed the GDST’s Capability Test, and are now eligible to carry the new “GDST-Capable” logo.

GDST Re-Launches as a Permanent and Independent Organization:

Transformation Reflects Value and Broad Industry Support

October 3, 2022 - The GDST today announced its successful reorganization into a permanent new entity with full legal independence and a participatory, industry-based structure. The move is a major change in the organization and operation of the GDST that will significantly strengthen the GDST’s role as a leading industry forum.

GDST Launches its Updated Seafood Standard in Australia

September 28, 2022 - The GDST, in cooperation with GS1 Australia, kicked off a two-week promotional visit in Australia to promote the recently updated GDST 1.1 global standard, providing additional flexibility and utility to the seafood industry. The standard is built as an extension of the widely used international traceability standard known as GS1 EPCIS.

The GDST Secretariat invites you to meet at key upcoming events.

August 18, 2022 - The GDST Secretariat hopes to meet with you  at this year's: Vietfish in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Global Shrimp Forum in Utrcht, Netherlands; Seafood Expo Asia in Singapore; Seafood Directions in Brisbane, Australia; and Sustainable Seafood Summit in Tokyo, Japan.

GDST Organization, Terms of Membership Changing October 1, 2022.

August 2, 2022 - The new GDST organization is coming soon!  The new structure will provide a permanent home to continue the GDST’s vital mission and further strengthen the involvement of our members and stakeholders.  On  October 1st, 2022, the terms of GDST membership will be changing to support the transition to the new organization.

Launch of GDST Capability Test is a Major Leap Forward in Bringing Quality Assurances and Practical Adoption Support to the Seafood Industry

June 30, 2022 - In an industry first, companies now have access to a capability test that will allow them to verify the ability of software solutions to achieve data sharing interoperability using the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) standard.

GDST Highlighted in Major Civil Society, Industry Statement in Japan

May 23, 2022 -  This week in Tokyo, an unusual and influential collection of 17 seafood industry and civil society groups issued a powerful joint statement urging the government of Japan to strengthen its policies and actions against IUU fishing.  Among the key recommendations was the implementation of a national seafood traceability system based on the GDST seafood traceability standards.

New GDST Tool Will Test Interoperability of Traceability Software, Provide Commercial Assurances

April 27, 2022 –Just one month after announcing several important updates to its structural growth at Seafood Expo North America, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) has successfully completed the first round of beta testing of the first-ever tool to verify the ability of software solutions to achieve GDST data sharing interoperability.

GDST Opens New Phase of Growth and Services for Advancing Seafood Traceability

March 13, 2022 – Two years after releasing its groundbreaking industry standards for seafood traceability, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) will use its public panel at the Seafood Expo North America today to announce the opening of a new phase in its growth and evolution.  The panel will be led by Mr. Greg Brown, making his first public appearance as the GDST’s inaugural Executive Director.  During the panel, Mr. Brown will highlight several important developments that will further strengthen the GDST and accelerate the seafood industry’s transition to globally interoperable digital traceability.

Greg Brown Named New Executive Director Of The GDST

January 11, 2022- The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) is pleased to announce that Mr. Gregory V. Brown has been appointed as the GDST’s inaugural Executive Director.

Largest Tuna Trader In The World Joins The Global Dialogue On Seafood Traceability (GDST)

November 30, 2021 – FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), one of the world’s largest marine products integrated supply chain service provider companies specializing in tuna, has joined the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) as formally announced on the GDST website. With more than 30 subsidiaries, fishing bases, and shipping agents around the world, FCF's participation in the GDST has the potential to significantly support the expansion and implementation of traceability systems across the tuna sector.

Fishing Industry Association (FIA PNG) Becomes the Newest Member of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)

September 20, 2021 –We are delighted to announce that the Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) has adopted the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) traceability standards to further its commitment to responsible tuna sourcing.

New Approach to Digital Traceability Opens Global Doors for Artisinal Fisheries

September 2, 2021 – An innovative study in the Peru mahi and jumbo squid fisheries proved how affordable digital technologies can work with new global seafood traceability standards to produce positive results for small-scale fishers and their customers. The study was organized by World Wildlife Fund Peru (WWF-Peru) in collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Secretariat (WWF-US and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)), and traceability technology companies Trace Register and Plenumsoft Marina.

Seafood Industry Traceability Pilot Confirms That Standards Are Key to Supply Chain Interoperability

June 22, 2021 – A recent seafood industry traceability pilot study has confirmed that standards are essential to helping trading partners seamlessly exchange supply chain data across technology platforms, improving end-to-end visibility. The study was conducted by GS1 US in collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Beaver Street Fisheries, Bumble Bee Seafoods, Chicken of the Sea, FoodLogiQ, IBM Food Trust, Insite Solutions/Norpac, ripe.io, SAP, Walmart, and Wholechain.

One Year Strong - A message to the seafood industry from the companies of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Steering Committee

April 14, 2021 - The eleven companies and producer associations that serve on the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Steering Committee are proud to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the GDST 1.0 Standards & Guidelines for Interoperable Seafood Traceability Systems in a public statement addressed to the seafood industry.

GDST Leads Solution Provider Exercise for Implementing Interoperable Seafood Traceability

March 16, 2021 -  The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) hosted an innovative interoperability implementation exercise to demonstrate solution providers’ workflows and choreographies to communicate traceability data. As a large and diverse business-to-business forum in the seafood sector, GDST aims to ensure the responsible and legal origin of seafood products by creating access to verifiable information through digital, interoperable traceability. Five leading traceability solution providers collaborated on the exercise, which leveraged the GDST 1.0 standards released in March 2020 to bring the industry together around common data requirements and data-sharing formats. The exercise showed how the standards, which utilize and extend GS1’s Global Traceability Standard 2.0, unite diverse seafood traceability systems and facilitate end-to-end traceability through global supply chains.

Statement on Traceability and Port State Measures

February 16, 2021 - Today, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), and four other leading industry and multi-stakeholder platforms in the seafood sector, joined together to issue a joint statement calling for global action to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Taken together, the five platforms represent over 150 companies, making this one of the largest seafood industry calls for action on record. Importantly, the five groups call for widespread adoption of the GDST standards as a top priority for eliminating IUU products from seafood markets.

“Nowhere to land, nowhere to sell” Seafood sector giants focus action on closing ports and supply chains to illegal fishing

February 16, 2021 - Today, five of the most influential industry and multi-stakeholder platforms in the seafood sector have released a joint statement calling for action to combat the scourge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In their “Statement on Traceability and Port State Measures,” the groups call for a combination of private sector and government actions to help transform the transparency and accountability of seafood supply chains and block landings of IUU catch. The five groups releasing the statement are Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS), the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) Taken together, these platforms include over 150 companies from across the seafood value chain, making this one of the largest seafood industry calls for action on record.

Culinary Collaborations LLC Makes Groundbreaking Commitment to New Traceability Standards

February 9, 2021 - Culinary Collaborations LLC (CCL)—one of North America’s top sushi wholesalers—today became the first company to make a public time-bound commitment to implement the new GDST 1.0 standards. These standards, launched by the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) last March, are the first global standards for tracking seafood products from point of origin to point of sale.

Five Questions With Iberostar - Part Two

September 28, 2020 - In part two of this two-part blog series, we asked Iberostar about their plans for promoting seafood transparency and traceability within their supply chains, and the resources they offer both internally and externally for supply chain partners looking to make a change.

Five Questions With Iberostar - Part One

September 17, 2020 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability’s (GDST) Frankie Terzoli recently met with members of Iberostar to get the inside scoop on their plans for improving seafood traceability in their hotel supply chains, and how being a GDST member and adopting GDST 1.0 will benefit their traceability work.

Sea Pact and GDST Announce Joint Work Program — Ten Companies Add Momentum to GDST Uptake

September 8, 2020 - Ten leading seafood companies from North America--who together form the Sea Pact platform--have now added their names to the growing list of major stakeholders to endorse GDST 1.0, the groundbreaking new seafood traceability standards last March. In a joint statement released today, Sea Pact and GDST commit to collaborate on a work program in support of efficient, verifiable, and interoperable seafood traceability through the implementation of the GDST standards. Sea Pact’s endorsement is an important sign of the momentum continuing to build towards GDST adoption across the entire seafood sector.

UK Seafood Industry Alliance Endorses Leading Global Traceability Standards

August 30, 2020 - The UK Seafood Industry Alliance (UK SIA) has joined the group of major stakeholders to endorse the groundbreaking new traceability standards released by The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) in March 2020. These standards, officially known as GDST 1.0, will enable interoperability and significantly increased verifiability for all seafood traceability systems by designing specifications to allow for seamless data sharing and defining the key data elements that should accompany seafood products as they move through supply chains.

GDST Meets With the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG)

July 30, 2020 - The GDST met with the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG) to discuss GDST 1.0 and explore how the GDST and Seafood 2040 can collaborate in support of strong seafood traceability.

GDST 1.0 Launches!

March 16, 2020 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)—a major industry forum involving more than five dozen companies worldwide from across the seafood supply chain—released the first-ever global standards for tracking seafood products from point of origin to point of sale. These standards are a critical step forward in the fight against illegal fishing and unethical labour practices and are changing the game for an industry under increasing pressure to demonstrate its compliance with high standards for ethical sourcing.

An Open Letter from the GDST Steering Committee

January 22, 2020 - the GDST’s Steering Committee came together to promote the groundbreaking GDST 1.0 standards in an official open letter release. The intent was to call on all businesses and stakeholders with an investment in seafood to support the standards that GDST members helped solidify over the last few years. The letter was shared with trade press and other stakeholders, and additional promotion is encouraged in preparation for the official GDST 1.0 launch in March. The GDST has also shared this letter through new social media channels; Twitter (@TheGDST) and LinkedIn (The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability).

11 industry leaders form new GDST Steering Committee

October 2, 2019 -  The GDST is pleased to announce the formation of a strong new Steering Committee featuring eleven leading GDST member companies and associations.  The formation of this Steering Committee represents a significant step towards securing the future and long-term impact of the GDST standards slated for adoption in the first quarter of 2020.

GDST Traceability Hackathons in Cologne and Bali

July 9, 2019 - The GDST is hosting a second round of Seafood Traceability Hackathons (Trackathons) in 2019! Using a collaborative problem-solving approach, we are looking for talents who will help produce open-source solutions to challenges the seafood industry currently faces. Join us in Cologne (October 21-22) or Bali (October 26-27) to develop solutions that can be applied in the real world.  Learn what the seafood industry has created in terms of interoperable seafood traceability and network with industry leaders.

GDST and SeaBOS join forces

March 17, 2019 - Boston, MA.
The Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) and the GDST are joining forces in support of seafood traceability. The two leading seafood industry groups—which together include seven of the world’s ten largest seafood production companies with combined seafood sales of well over USD $35 billion per year—are now pledging to work jointly towards the adoption of global industry standards that will improve the quality, efficiency, and affordability of seafood traceability.

Crowdsourcing Solutions for Interoperable Seafood Traceability

February 12, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand.
Building a global network of interoperable traceability systems will not be accomplished by the seafood industry alone. While it is the processers, traders and buyers who have well-defined needs and must lead the way, the technical talents to transform ideas into market-ready, affordable solutions often sit outside the seafood sector. Read more about how the GDST leveraged technical talents at its recent Hackathon in Bangkok.

A Leap Forward for Traceability

March 18, 2019 - Boston, MA.
At the 2019 Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts this March, member companies of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability discussed their efforts to align on the basic elements for a framework on interoperable seafood traceability. Representatives from Thai Union/Chicken of the Sea, Anova Foods USA, Bumble Bee Foods and Albion Farms and Fisheries explained the importance of establishing industry standards for traceability and agreeing on a common language to allow systems to communicate among each other.

GDST, Thai Union Featured in Coverage of Seafood Expo Asia 2022

September 23, 2022 - The growing momentum of the GDST was highlighted in a leading SeafoodSource article today, reporting on a recent panel at Seafood Expo Asia 2022 in which GDST Steering Committee member Adam Brennan, Group Sustainablity Director for Thai Union, was prominently featured.

The GDST Secretariat invites you to meet at key upcoming events.

August 18, 2022 - The GDST Secretariat hopes to meet with you  at this year's: Vietfish in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Global Shrimp Forum in Utrcht, Netherlands; Seafood Expo Asia in Singapore; Seafood Directions in Brisbane, Australia; and Sustainable Seafood Summit in Tokyo, Japan.

GDST Organization, Terms of Membership Changing October 1, 2022.

August 2, 2022 - The new GDST organization is coming soon!  The new structure will provide a permanent home to continue the GDST’s vital mission and further strengthen the involvement of our members and stakeholders.  On  October 1st, 2022, the terms of GDST membership will be changing to support the transition to the new organization.

Launch of GDST Capability Test is a Major Leap Forward in Bringing Quality Assurances and Practical Adoption Support to the Seafood Industry

June 30, 2022 - In an industry first, companies now have access to a capability test that will allow them to verify the ability of software solutions to achieve data sharing interoperability using the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) standard.

GDST Highlighted in Major Civil Society, Industry Statement in Japan

May 23, 2022 -  This week in Tokyo, an unusual and influential collection of 17 seafood industry and civil society groups issued a powerful joint statement urging the government of Japan to strengthen its policies and actions against IUU fishing.  Among the key recommendations was the implementation of a national seafood traceability system based on the GDST seafood traceability standards.

New GDST Tool Will Test Interoperability of Traceability Software, Provide Commercial Assurances

April 27, 2022 –Just one month after announcing several important updates to its structural growth at Seafood Expo North America, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) has successfully completed the first round of beta testing of the first-ever tool to verify the ability of software solutions to achieve GDST data sharing interoperability.

GDST Opens New Phase of Growth and Services for Advancing Seafood Traceability

March 13, 2022 – Two years after releasing its groundbreaking industry standards for seafood traceability, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) will use its public panel at the Seafood Expo North America today to announce the opening of a new phase in its growth and evolution.  The panel will be led by Mr. Greg Brown, making his first public appearance as the GDST’s inaugural Executive Director.  During the panel, Mr. Brown will highlight several important developments that will further strengthen the GDST and accelerate the seafood industry’s transition to globally interoperable digital traceability.

Greg Brown Named New Executive Director Of The GDST

January 11, 2022- The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) is pleased to announce that Mr. Gregory V. Brown has been appointed as the GDST’s inaugural Executive Director.

Largest Tuna Trader In The World Joins The Global Dialogue On Seafood Traceability (GDST)

November 30, 2021 – FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), one of the world’s largest marine products integrated supply chain service provider companies specializing in tuna, has joined the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) as formally announced on the GDST website. With more than 30 subsidiaries, fishing bases, and shipping agents around the world, FCF's participation in the GDST has the potential to significantly support the expansion and implementation of traceability systems across the tuna sector.

Fishing Industry Association (FIA PNG) Becomes the Newest Member of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)

September 20, 2021 –We are delighted to announce that the Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) has adopted the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) traceability standards to further its commitment to responsible tuna sourcing.

New Approach to Digital Traceability Opens Global Doors for Artisinal Fisheries

September 2, 2021 – An innovative study in the Peru mahi and jumbo squid fisheries proved how affordable digital technologies can work with new global seafood traceability standards to produce positive results for small-scale fishers and their customers. The study was organized by World Wildlife Fund Peru (WWF-Peru) in collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Secretariat (WWF-US and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)), and traceability technology companies Trace Register and Plenumsoft Marina.

Seafood Industry Traceability Pilot Confirms That Standards Are Key to Supply Chain Interoperability

June 22, 2021 – A recent seafood industry traceability pilot study has confirmed that standards are essential to helping trading partners seamlessly exchange supply chain data across technology platforms, improving end-to-end visibility. The study was conducted by GS1 US in collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Beaver Street Fisheries, Bumble Bee Seafoods, Chicken of the Sea, FoodLogiQ, IBM Food Trust, Insite Solutions/Norpac, ripe.io, SAP, Walmart, and Wholechain.

One Year Strong - A message to the seafood industry from the companies of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Steering Committee

April 14, 2021 - The eleven companies and producer associations that serve on the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Steering Committee are proud to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the GDST 1.0 Standards & Guidelines for Interoperable Seafood Traceability Systems in a public statement addressed to the seafood industry.

GDST Leads Solution Provider Exercise for Implementing Interoperable Seafood Traceability

March 16, 2021 -  The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) hosted an innovative interoperability implementation exercise to demonstrate solution providers’ workflows and choreographies to communicate traceability data. As a large and diverse business-to-business forum in the seafood sector, GDST aims to ensure the responsible and legal origin of seafood products by creating access to verifiable information through digital, interoperable traceability. Five leading traceability solution providers collaborated on the exercise, which leveraged the GDST 1.0 standards released in March 2020 to bring the industry together around common data requirements and data-sharing formats. The exercise showed how the standards, which utilize and extend GS1’s Global Traceability Standard 2.0, unite diverse seafood traceability systems and facilitate end-to-end traceability through global supply chains.

Statement on Traceability and Port State Measures

February 16, 2021 - Today, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), and four other leading industry and multi-stakeholder platforms in the seafood sector, joined together to issue a joint statement calling for global action to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Taken together, the five platforms represent over 150 companies, making this one of the largest seafood industry calls for action on record. Importantly, the five groups call for widespread adoption of the GDST standards as a top priority for eliminating IUU products from seafood markets.

“Nowhere to land, nowhere to sell” Seafood sector giants focus action on closing ports and supply chains to illegal fishing

February 16, 2021 - Today, five of the most influential industry and multi-stakeholder platforms in the seafood sector have released a joint statement calling for action to combat the scourge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In their “Statement on Traceability and Port State Measures,” the groups call for a combination of private sector and government actions to help transform the transparency and accountability of seafood supply chains and block landings of IUU catch. The five groups releasing the statement are Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS), the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) Taken together, these platforms include over 150 companies from across the seafood value chain, making this one of the largest seafood industry calls for action on record.

Culinary Collaborations LLC Makes Groundbreaking Commitment to New Traceability Standards

February 9, 2021 - Culinary Collaborations LLC (CCL)—one of North America’s top sushi wholesalers—today became the first company to make a public time-bound commitment to implement the new GDST 1.0 standards. These standards, launched by the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) last March, are the first global standards for tracking seafood products from point of origin to point of sale.

Five Questions With Iberostar - Part Two

September 28, 2020 - In part two of this two-part blog series, we asked Iberostar about their plans for promoting seafood transparency and traceability within their supply chains, and the resources they offer both internally and externally for supply chain partners looking to make a change.

Five Questions With Iberostar - Part One

September 17, 2020 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability’s (GDST) Frankie Terzoli recently met with members of Iberostar to get the inside scoop on their plans for improving seafood traceability in their hotel supply chains, and how being a GDST member and adopting GDST 1.0 will benefit their traceability work.

Sea Pact and GDST Announce Joint Work Program — Ten Companies Add Momentum to GDST Uptake

September 8, 2020 - Ten leading seafood companies from North America--who together form the Sea Pact platform--have now added their names to the growing list of major stakeholders to endorse GDST 1.0, the groundbreaking new seafood traceability standards last March. In a joint statement released today, Sea Pact and GDST commit to collaborate on a work program in support of efficient, verifiable, and interoperable seafood traceability through the implementation of the GDST standards. Sea Pact’s endorsement is an important sign of the momentum continuing to build towards GDST adoption across the entire seafood sector.

UK Seafood Industry Alliance Endorses Leading Global Traceability Standards

August 30, 2020 - The UK Seafood Industry Alliance (UK SIA) has joined the group of major stakeholders to endorse the groundbreaking new traceability standards released by The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) in March 2020. These standards, officially known as GDST 1.0, will enable interoperability and significantly increased verifiability for all seafood traceability systems by designing specifications to allow for seamless data sharing and defining the key data elements that should accompany seafood products as they move through supply chains.

GDST Meets With the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG)

July 30, 2020 - The GDST met with the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG) to discuss GDST 1.0 and explore how the GDST and Seafood 2040 can collaborate in support of strong seafood traceability.

GDST 1.0 Launches!

March 16, 2020 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)—a major industry forum involving more than five dozen companies worldwide from across the seafood supply chain—released the first-ever global standards for tracking seafood products from point of origin to point of sale. These standards are a critical step forward in the fight against illegal fishing and unethical labour practices and are changing the game for an industry under increasing pressure to demonstrate its compliance with high standards for ethical sourcing.

An Open Letter from the GDST Steering Committee

January 22, 2020 - the GDST’s Steering Committee came together to promote the groundbreaking GDST 1.0 standards in an official open letter release. The intent was to call on all businesses and stakeholders with an investment in seafood to support the standards that GDST members helped solidify over the last few years. The letter was shared with trade press and other stakeholders, and additional promotion is encouraged in preparation for the official GDST 1.0 launch in March. The GDST has also shared this letter through new social media channels; Twitter (@TheGDST) and LinkedIn (The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability).

11 industry leaders form new GDST Steering Committee

October 2, 2019 -  The GDST is pleased to announce the formation of a strong new Steering Committee featuring eleven leading GDST member companies and associations.  The formation of this Steering Committee represents a significant step towards securing the future and long-term impact of the GDST standards slated for adoption in the first quarter of 2020.

GDST Traceability Hackathons in Cologne and Bali

July 9, 2019 - The GDST is hosting a second round of Seafood Traceability Hackathons (Trackathons) in 2019! Using a collaborative problem-solving approach, we are looking for talents who will help produce open-source solutions to challenges the seafood industry currently faces. Join us in Cologne (October 21-22) or Bali (October 26-27) to develop solutions that can be applied in the real world.  Learn what the seafood industry has created in terms of interoperable seafood traceability and network with industry leaders.

GDST and SeaBOS join forces

March 17, 2019 - Boston, MA.
The Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) and the GDST are joining forces in support of seafood traceability. The two leading seafood industry groups—which together include seven of the world’s ten largest seafood production companies with combined seafood sales of well over USD $35 billion per year—are now pledging to work jointly towards the adoption of global industry standards that will improve the quality, efficiency, and affordability of seafood traceability.

Crowdsourcing Solutions for Interoperable Seafood Traceability

February 12, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand.
Building a global network of interoperable traceability systems will not be accomplished by the seafood industry alone. While it is the processers, traders and buyers who have well-defined needs and must lead the way, the technical talents to transform ideas into market-ready, affordable solutions often sit outside the seafood sector. Read more about how the GDST leveraged technical talents at its recent Hackathon in Bangkok.

A Leap Forward for Traceability

March 18, 2019 - Boston, MA.
At the 2019 Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts this March, member companies of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability discussed their efforts to align on the basic elements for a framework on interoperable seafood traceability. Representatives from Thai Union/Chicken of the Sea, Anova Foods USA, Bumble Bee Foods and Albion Farms and Fisheries explained the importance of establishing industry standards for traceability and agreeing on a common language to allow systems to communicate among each other.

GDST, Thai Union Featured in Coverage of Seafood Expo Asia 2022

September 23, 2022 - The growing momentum of the GDST was highlighted in a leading SeafoodSource article today, reporting on a recent panel at Seafood Expo Asia 2022 in which GDST Steering Committee member Adam Brennan, Group Sustainablity Director for Thai Union, was prominently featured.

The GDST Secretariat invites you to meet at key upcoming events.

August 18, 2022 - The GDST Secretariat hopes to meet with you  at this year's: Vietfish in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Global Shrimp Forum in Utrcht, Netherlands; Seafood Expo Asia in Singapore; Seafood Directions in Brisbane, Australia; and Sustainable Seafood Summit in Tokyo, Japan.

GDST Organization, Terms of Membership Changing October 1, 2022.

August 2, 2022 - The new GDST organization is coming soon!  The new structure will provide a permanent home to continue the GDST’s vital mission and further strengthen the involvement of our members and stakeholders.  On  October 1st, 2022, the terms of GDST membership will be changing to support the transition to the new organization.

Launch of GDST Capability Test is a Major Leap Forward in Bringing Quality Assurances and Practical Adoption Support to the Seafood Industry

June 30, 2022 - In an industry first, companies now have access to a capability test that will allow them to verify the ability of software solutions to achieve data sharing interoperability using the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) standard.

GDST Highlighted in Major Civil Society, Industry Statement in Japan

May 23, 2022 -  This week in Tokyo, an unusual and influential collection of 17 seafood industry and civil society groups issued a powerful joint statement urging the government of Japan to strengthen its policies and actions against IUU fishing.  Among the key recommendations was the implementation of a national seafood traceability system based on the GDST seafood traceability standards.

New GDST Tool Will Test Interoperability of Traceability Software, Provide Commercial Assurances

April 27, 2022 –Just one month after announcing several important updates to its structural growth at Seafood Expo North America, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) has successfully completed the first round of beta testing of the first-ever tool to verify the ability of software solutions to achieve GDST data sharing interoperability.

GDST Opens New Phase of Growth and Services for Advancing Seafood Traceability

March 13, 2022 – Two years after releasing its groundbreaking industry standards for seafood traceability, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) will use its public panel at the Seafood Expo North America today to announce the opening of a new phase in its growth and evolution.  The panel will be led by Mr. Greg Brown, making his first public appearance as the GDST’s inaugural Executive Director.  During the panel, Mr. Brown will highlight several important developments that will further strengthen the GDST and accelerate the seafood industry’s transition to globally interoperable digital traceability.

Greg Brown Named New Executive Director Of The GDST

January 11, 2022- The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) is pleased to announce that Mr. Gregory V. Brown has been appointed as the GDST’s inaugural Executive Director.

Largest Tuna Trader In The World Joins The Global Dialogue On Seafood Traceability (GDST)

November 30, 2021 – FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), one of the world’s largest marine products integrated supply chain service provider companies specializing in tuna, has joined the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) as formally announced on the GDST website. With more than 30 subsidiaries, fishing bases, and shipping agents around the world, FCF's participation in the GDST has the potential to significantly support the expansion and implementation of traceability systems across the tuna sector.

Fishing Industry Association (FIA PNG) Becomes the Newest Member of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)

September 20, 2021 –We are delighted to announce that the Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) has adopted the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) traceability standards to further its commitment to responsible tuna sourcing.

New Approach to Digital Traceability Opens Global Doors for Artisinal Fisheries

September 2, 2021 – An innovative study in the Peru mahi and jumbo squid fisheries proved how affordable digital technologies can work with new global seafood traceability standards to produce positive results for small-scale fishers and their customers. The study was organized by World Wildlife Fund Peru (WWF-Peru) in collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Secretariat (WWF-US and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)), and traceability technology companies Trace Register and Plenumsoft Marina.

Seafood Industry Traceability Pilot Confirms That Standards Are Key to Supply Chain Interoperability

June 22, 2021 – A recent seafood industry traceability pilot study has confirmed that standards are essential to helping trading partners seamlessly exchange supply chain data across technology platforms, improving end-to-end visibility. The study was conducted by GS1 US in collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Beaver Street Fisheries, Bumble Bee Seafoods, Chicken of the Sea, FoodLogiQ, IBM Food Trust, Insite Solutions/Norpac, ripe.io, SAP, Walmart, and Wholechain.

One Year Strong - A message to the seafood industry from the companies of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Steering Committee

April 14, 2021 - The eleven companies and producer associations that serve on the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Steering Committee are proud to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the GDST 1.0 Standards & Guidelines for Interoperable Seafood Traceability Systems in a public statement addressed to the seafood industry.

GDST Leads Solution Provider Exercise for Implementing Interoperable Seafood Traceability

March 16, 2021 -  The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) hosted an innovative interoperability implementation exercise to demonstrate solution providers’ workflows and choreographies to communicate traceability data. As a large and diverse business-to-business forum in the seafood sector, GDST aims to ensure the responsible and legal origin of seafood products by creating access to verifiable information through digital, interoperable traceability. Five leading traceability solution providers collaborated on the exercise, which leveraged the GDST 1.0 standards released in March 2020 to bring the industry together around common data requirements and data-sharing formats. The exercise showed how the standards, which utilize and extend GS1’s Global Traceability Standard 2.0, unite diverse seafood traceability systems and facilitate end-to-end traceability through global supply chains.

Statement on Traceability and Port State Measures

February 16, 2021 - Today, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), and four other leading industry and multi-stakeholder platforms in the seafood sector, joined together to issue a joint statement calling for global action to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Taken together, the five platforms represent over 150 companies, making this one of the largest seafood industry calls for action on record. Importantly, the five groups call for widespread adoption of the GDST standards as a top priority for eliminating IUU products from seafood markets.

“Nowhere to land, nowhere to sell” Seafood sector giants focus action on closing ports and supply chains to illegal fishing

February 16, 2021 - Today, five of the most influential industry and multi-stakeholder platforms in the seafood sector have released a joint statement calling for action to combat the scourge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In their “Statement on Traceability and Port State Measures,” the groups call for a combination of private sector and government actions to help transform the transparency and accountability of seafood supply chains and block landings of IUU catch. The five groups releasing the statement are Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS), the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) Taken together, these platforms include over 150 companies from across the seafood value chain, making this one of the largest seafood industry calls for action on record.

Culinary Collaborations LLC Makes Groundbreaking Commitment to New Traceability Standards

February 9, 2021 - Culinary Collaborations LLC (CCL)—one of North America’s top sushi wholesalers—today became the first company to make a public time-bound commitment to implement the new GDST 1.0 standards. These standards, launched by the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) last March, are the first global standards for tracking seafood products from point of origin to point of sale.

Five Questions With Iberostar - Part Two

September 28, 2020 - In part two of this two-part blog series, we asked Iberostar about their plans for promoting seafood transparency and traceability within their supply chains, and the resources they offer both internally and externally for supply chain partners looking to make a change.

Five Questions With Iberostar - Part One

September 17, 2020 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability’s (GDST) Frankie Terzoli recently met with members of Iberostar to get the inside scoop on their plans for improving seafood traceability in their hotel supply chains, and how being a GDST member and adopting GDST 1.0 will benefit their traceability work.

Sea Pact and GDST Announce Joint Work Program — Ten Companies Add Momentum to GDST Uptake

September 8, 2020 - Ten leading seafood companies from North America--who together form the Sea Pact platform--have now added their names to the growing list of major stakeholders to endorse GDST 1.0, the groundbreaking new seafood traceability standards last March. In a joint statement released today, Sea Pact and GDST commit to collaborate on a work program in support of efficient, verifiable, and interoperable seafood traceability through the implementation of the GDST standards. Sea Pact’s endorsement is an important sign of the momentum continuing to build towards GDST adoption across the entire seafood sector.

UK Seafood Industry Alliance Endorses Leading Global Traceability Standards

August 30, 2020 - The UK Seafood Industry Alliance (UK SIA) has joined the group of major stakeholders to endorse the groundbreaking new traceability standards released by The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) in March 2020. These standards, officially known as GDST 1.0, will enable interoperability and significantly increased verifiability for all seafood traceability systems by designing specifications to allow for seamless data sharing and defining the key data elements that should accompany seafood products as they move through supply chains.

GDST Meets With the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG)

July 30, 2020 - The GDST met with the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG) to discuss GDST 1.0 and explore how the GDST and Seafood 2040 can collaborate in support of strong seafood traceability.

GDST 1.0 Launches!

March 16, 2020 - The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)—a major industry forum involving more than five dozen companies worldwide from across the seafood supply chain—released the first-ever global standards for tracking seafood products from point of origin to point of sale. These standards are a critical step forward in the fight against illegal fishing and unethical labour practices and are changing the game for an industry under increasing pressure to demonstrate its compliance with high standards for ethical sourcing.

An Open Letter from the GDST Steering Committee

January 22, 2020 - the GDST’s Steering Committee came together to promote the groundbreaking GDST 1.0 standards in an official open letter release. The intent was to call on all businesses and stakeholders with an investment in seafood to support the standards that GDST members helped solidify over the last few years. The letter was shared with trade press and other stakeholders, and additional promotion is encouraged in preparation for the official GDST 1.0 launch in March. The GDST has also shared this letter through new social media channels; Twitter (@TheGDST) and LinkedIn (The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability).

11 industry leaders form new GDST Steering Committee

October 2, 2019 -  The GDST is pleased to announce the formation of a strong new Steering Committee featuring eleven leading GDST member companies and associations.  The formation of this Steering Committee represents a significant step towards securing the future and long-term impact of the GDST standards slated for adoption in the first quarter of 2020.

GDST Traceability Hackathons in Cologne and Bali

July 9, 2019 - The GDST is hosting a second round of Seafood Traceability Hackathons (Trackathons) in 2019! Using a collaborative problem-solving approach, we are looking for talents who will help produce open-source solutions to challenges the seafood industry currently faces. Join us in Cologne (October 21-22) or Bali (October 26-27) to develop solutions that can be applied in the real world.  Learn what the seafood industry has created in terms of interoperable seafood traceability and network with industry leaders.

GDST and SeaBOS join forces

March 17, 2019 - Boston, MA.
The Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) and the GDST are joining forces in support of seafood traceability. The two leading seafood industry groups—which together include seven of the world’s ten largest seafood production companies with combined seafood sales of well over USD $35 billion per year—are now pledging to work jointly towards the adoption of global industry standards that will improve the quality, efficiency, and affordability of seafood traceability.

Crowdsourcing Solutions for Interoperable Seafood Traceability

February 12, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand.
Building a global network of interoperable traceability systems will not be accomplished by the seafood industry alone. While it is the processers, traders and buyers who have well-defined needs and must lead the way, the technical talents to transform ideas into market-ready, affordable solutions often sit outside the seafood sector. Read more about how the GDST leveraged technical talents at its recent Hackathon in Bangkok.

A Leap Forward for Traceability

March 18, 2019 - Boston, MA.
At the 2019 Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts this March, member companies of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability discussed their efforts to align on the basic elements for a framework on interoperable seafood traceability. Representatives from Thai Union/Chicken of the Sea, Anova Foods USA, Bumble Bee Foods and Albion Farms and Fisheries explained the importance of establishing industry standards for traceability and agreeing on a common language to allow systems to communicate among each other.