FAQS

SALT was created to catalyze solutions that transform how the seafood industry and governments collect, share, verify, and, ultimately, use data for sustainable and socially responsible fisheries.

SALT’s objectives are to:

1. Expand accessible, interoperable, and electronic catch documentation and traceability for wild capture fisheries and aquaculture
2. Increase the capacity of seafood-producing countries to adopt catch documentation and traceability systems to strengthen fisheries management and verify fisheries data
3. Increase incentives and capacities for the seafood industry to adopt electronic traceability to ensure the legality of wild-caught fisheries products in their supply chains
4. Identify ways in which the implementation of electronic catch documentation and traceability can support human and labor rights for all seafood workers, food security, livelihoods, and well-being

• Global Dialogue for Seafood Traceability (GDST)
• The Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions
• Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS)
• The Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP)
• Seafood Taskforce
• USAID & SEAFDEC Oceans and Fisheries Partnership

Many of these initiatives have a specific focus on particular organizations, parts of the seafood supply chain, or geographic region. Rather than add another voice to the sustainable seafood conversation, SALT amplifies these existing voices by sharing their work and experiences more broadly with our community. For example, the Global Dialogue for Seafood Traceability (GDST) also serves on SALT’s advisory committee, and SALT will promote GDST’s final recommendations on sharing of catch data.

Based on feedback during SALT’s first year, we determined our main areas of focus would be digging into incentives around implementing electronic traceability systems and establishing principles on how to bring value to fisheries managers and human rights groups through traceability. For a more detailed look at our current projects, check out Our Focus.

Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (eCDT) refers to the electronic capture of standardized catch data and electronic transfer of that information through the supply chain to support overall product traceability. SALT believes eCDT systems should also be comprehensive in that catch data should be used to support social, environmental, and economic well-being overall. For example, comprehensive eCDT would include fisheries data for better management as well as product and operations data for regulatory compliance – supporting protections against illegal behavior at sea.

There are no membership fees or special requirements to be part of the SALT community, just a willingness to collaborate on seafood traceability solutions. There are many ways to engage with SALT, including receiving and sharing traceability information and attending collaborative events. If you’re not sure where to dive in, signing up for our newsletter is a great place to start. Click the link below to sign up now. If you are interested in contributing more actively to the community by sharing your traceability story, collaborating on a project, or hosting an event, please contact us.