The UAE’s fisheries sector is undergoing a shift in how fish landings are recorded and verified, as Fujairah becomes the latest emirate to adopt SFS Fisheries – a digital platform that tracks fishing operations and confirms the origin of local catch.
Developed by Seafood Souq, SFS Fisheries was first deployed at Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah five months ago.
Its expansion to Fujairah follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Fujairah Fishermen Association and Seafood Souq, formalising collaboration on digitising fisheries operations in the emirate.
Fujairah joins Sharjah in adopting UAE’s first digital fisheries traceability system
The agreement was signed by Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, co-founder of Seafood Souq, and Mahmood Hassan Al Ali, Chairman of the Fujairah Fishermen Cooperative. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr Ibrahim Al Jamali, Regional Director – Northern Region at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and Sulaiman Rashid Al Khadeem, Chairman of the UAE Federation of Fishermen Associations.
At its core, SFS Fisheries integrates a mobile application, a digital logbook and a landing validation system to document fishing activity in real time. Each registered vessel is assigned a unique QR code, allowing regulators, traders and consumers to access verified data on licence status, catch type, origin, landing time and quantity.
The system replaces manual processes with a digital record, providing traceability from sea to point of sale.
Under the Fujairah agreement, fish landings will be recorded digitally at approved sites, with each shipment linked to vessel data and supported by digital catch certificates. These certificates provide verified proof of origin, enabling buyers and consumers to confirm product authenticity, freshness and sourcing.
The system’s performance in Sharjah has demonstrated both operational and commercial value. More than 140,000 kilograms of seafood from over 130 vessels, spanning more than 50 local species, have been digitally verified at a single landing site. The data has enabled faster validation processes, reduced administrative errors and improved market access for fishermen.
Seafood Souq signs MoU with Fujairah fishermen association to digitise fish landings
The expansion forms part of a broader effort, supported by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, to establish a framework for sustainable fisheries management across all seven emirates.
The partnership with Fujairah also includes provisions for data sharing, technical advisory, and joint research and training programmes.
“Partnerships in vital sectors such as food and seafood are essential to building more efficient production systems, bringing together scientific knowledge and operational expertise across the value chain. Traceability and transparency are no longer optional; they are fundamental to how global markets assess quality, build trust, and determine competitiveness,” Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, co-founder of Seafood Souq said in a statement.
He added that adopting digital solutions would strengthen quality standards and expand opportunities for UAE-caught seafood to access higher-value markets.
The UAE’s seafood market is currently valued at approximately $1.49 billion and is projected to grow over the coming decade, driven by demand for protein, an expanding hospitality sector and consumer awareness around sourcing and sustainability.
With Fujairah now onboard, SFS Fisheries moves closer to becoming a national platform, placing the UAE among a group of countries adopting end-to-end digital oversight of fisheries.
