Launching the first digital system to track fishing operations in Sharjah
Sharjah, 17 November / WAM / Sharjah Asset Management Company, the investment arm of the Government of Sharjah, in cooperation with the international company Seafood Souq, today launched the first digital system of its kind in the United Arab Emirates and the region to track and document the landings and source of local fish in Sharjah, in a step towards building a more transparent and sustainable marine system that supports confidence in the national product and enhances food security in the country.
The launch was attended by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, co-founder of Seafood Souq, His Excellency Omar Al Mulla, CEO of the Investment Sector at Sharjah Asset Management Company, and a number of CEOs of institutions from the public and private sectors.
During the event, a strategic agreement was signed between “Seafood Souq” and “Souk Al-Jubail” to expand the digital tracking system to include “Souk Al-Jubail – Al-Hamriyah” and “Souk Al-Jubail – Kalba”, ensuring comprehensive digital verification at all major fish landing sites in the emirate.
Seafood Souq, in coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, also announced plans to expand nationwide to extend the system to all seven emirates of the country in preparation for establishing a unified national framework that ensures sustainable management of marine wealth.
The system is the first comprehensive digital solution to document the entire value chain in the fishing sector. It is a smart application that allows immediate verification of every fish supply to the Jubail market via a unique quick response (QR) code issued automatically to each fishing vessel. This code allows verification of license data, type of catch, source and quantity, which ensures accurate and transparent tracking of the fish’s journey from the moment the boat leaves until it reaches the consumer.
Regarding the launch of the digital tracking system, Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi said, “This system represents a practical model of how to employ modern technologies and smart solutions to build a more efficient, confident and sustainable business environment. When technology is integrated with transparency, Sharjah becomes a preferred destination for companies and investors looking for markets based on data and responsible practices, which enhances the emirate’s position as a leading platform for the smart economy in the region.”
For his part, His Excellency Omar Al Mulla said that the launch of the digital tracking system for fishing embodies Sharjah’s commitment to applying the principles of sustainability in all investment and service sectors. This project not only raises the efficiency of managing marine resources, but also translates the emirate’s endeavors to build a diversified economy based on innovation and environmental and social responsibility, thus consolidating its role in supporting national food security and enhancing confidence in the local product.
The digital tracking system represents a qualitative leap in the consumer experience, as it gives them the ability to verify for themselves the origin of the product, its quality, and the safety of supply chains. It also contributes to raising the level of governance and oversight of the fisheries sector as it is one of the vital sectors in the national food security system.
The system constitutes a qualitative step towards smart government transformation, as all administrative and supervisory processes are automated within an accurate database that can be consulted at any time, which reduces time wastage and operational costs for market operators and regulatory bodies and raises the efficiency of oversight through the presence of a unified digital record that is easy to track and audit. Thus, Sharjah becomes the first emirate to place data at the heart of the sustainability of its marine resources, which opens the door to adopting the same model at the state and region levels.
At the macroeconomic level, the digital system represents a practical step to support the practices of the blue economy, which is based on the sustainable use of marine resources to achieve economic growth and protect the environment at the same time. It also enhances the ability of Emirati fishermen to compete in the market on the basis of value and quality and not only in terms of prices, which supports the stability of their income and preserves traditional professions associated with the sea.
Immediately upon its launch, the digital tracking system culminated in obtaining the “Line of Impact” seal, which is the highest national accreditation given to initiatives that achieve tangible excellence in social responsibility (CSR) and environmental and social governance (ESG) standards. This recognition reflects the high institutional confidence that Sharjah enjoys in pioneering initiatives that support sustainability, the green economy, and responsible practices in resource management, as the digital system is consistent with the national agenda for entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, which aims to make the UAE a leading country by 2031. By enhancing the competitiveness of the business environment and encouraging innovation in vital sectors.
Since the launch of the digital tracking system, 140,500 kilograms of fish have been digitally verified, caught by 139 active vessels, covering 53 types of local fisheries. These numbers reflect the operational expansion potential of the system in other markets and ports across the country.
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