Norpac > Quality > Traceability

Traceability

Trace Your Seafood from Ocean to Plate

Knowing where your seafood comes from—and what species it truly is—builds trust in quality and sustainability. At Norpac Fisheries Export, we lead the industry in seafood traceability from ocean to plate, giving you full confidence in every catch.

We were the first in the industry to implement a barcode tagging system for individual fish. Each fish is tracked throughout our supply chain—from boat to processing, packaging, and shipping.

This end-to-end traceability ensures you receive verified, responsibly sourced seafood with complete transparency.

Traceability is an important component of our A.R.T.S; deeply held values encompassing our “Passion for Seafood and Commitment to Excellence.” To learn more, visit our values page:

Our Values

Capture / Purchase Product
Receiving
Issue and Processing
Weigh, Package and Label
Order Fulfillment to Exact Specifications
Logistic Tracking
Data Sharing
Trace Product

1. Capture / Purchase Product

All fish are assigned a unique serial number. Critical information, known as Key Data Elements (KDEs), are recorded at the vessel/dock, including information such as:

Vessel
Captain/Crew
Area of Capture
Catch method/Gear
Grade
Species
Weight and Date

2. Receiving

At receiving, each fish is carefully graded and tagged to ensure full seafood traceability and quality control. Key steps in our cold chain process include:

Barcode Scanning: The original purchasing barcode is scanned and linked to a digital inventory tag.
Temperature Monitoring & Grading: Internal temperature is recorded at intake to preserve seafood freshness and meet food safety standards, and graded when applicable.
Inventory Tag Printing: A traceable inventory tag with barcode and key data is printed and applied.
Cold Storage: Fish are stored in digitally monitored, temperature-controlled environments as part of our cold chain logistics system.

3. Issue and Processing

Each fish is individually issued to processing to fulfill specific customer orders, ensuring precision and accountability. Many are pre-tagged for specific clients based on their unique specifications.

Inventory tag scanning: Each fish’s inventory tag is scanned, and an issuance tag is generated with detailed cut specifications.
Digital traceability tracking: Products are electronically issued to processing, tracking inventory time and exact processing moments.
Custom seafood cuts: Each fish is cut to order, tailored to meet individual customer requirements.
Barcode traceability: Fish and their barcoded tags move together through our traceable seafood supply chain to the weigh, package, and label station.

4. Weigh, Package and Label

After issuance and processing, each piece is weighed, barcoded, and grade is examined for quality control.

Processed fish is weighed, and barcode information is updated, including any re-grading information
Each fillet/loin is issued a new barcode linked to barcode of raw material purchased and received
Vacuum package is labeled with product information and tracking barcode

5. Order Fulfillment to Exact Specifications

Each cut is individually scanned to the specific customer work order.

Scan tracking barcode to work order, linking raw material, finished good to exact carton number and invoice
Norpac makes a strong effort to eliminate packaging that is not environmentally responsible, each piece of fish is linked to the carton, packaging slip and invoice
Carton Label generated with unique ID, linking carton, goods, customer and source for full end to end traceability

6. Logistic Tracking

There are multiple steps taken to make sure your food can be tracked during the shipping process.

Shipping label is processed and linked to carton, finished goods, raw material, purchase order and work order
Cartons are scanned to truck for delivery to customer or airport for further transportation
Exchange with the shipper is recorded and electronically tracked for complete logistics record

7. Data Sharing

Data is electronically shared inside and outside the company via web services for real-time data access

Exchange with the shipper is recorded
Landings data are electronically reported to appropriate systems automatically
Sales to customers are digitally transferred to their traceability platforms
Supply chain information is sent to our internal systems for better product quality control throughout the chain

8. Trace Product

Each product traceable via purchase order, work order, carton number, product serial number, customer invoice

Trace forward from original fish
Trace backward from finished cut
Detailed Catch, Purchase, Receiving, Storage, and Processing data on each fillet/loin
Full logistics chain visibility on every piece shipped