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Thesis Approved 6 months of research and development

Seafood Ledger

Researcher & Developer

Blockchain system for seafood product traceability. Approved thesis project.

Hyperledger FabricDockerSmart ContractsNode.js

The Problem

The seafood industry (fish, shellfish) has a serious lack of traceability:

  • The actual origin of the product cannot be verified
  • Consumers don’t know if the fish is fresh or if it was properly processed
  • Companies have no way to prove the quality of their supply chain

I identified this problem while working with a real company in the sector as part of my thesis research.

The Solution

A blockchain system that records every point in the supply chain:

  1. Capture: Record of fisherman, zone, and time of capture
  2. Transport: Refrigeration conditions during transfer
  3. Processing: Date and processing lot
  4. Distribution: Points of sale and times
  5. End consumer: QR code to verify the entire history

Technical Details

Why Hyperledger Fabric

Unlike public blockchains (Ethereum, Bitcoin), Hyperledger Fabric is:

  • Permissioned: Only authorized participants can write
  • Private: Sensitive data is not public
  • Efficient: No mining required, fast transactions
  • Enterprise-grade: Designed for B2B use cases

Architecture

  • Blockchain Network: Hyperledger Fabric with multiple organizations
  • Smart Contracts: Chaincode in JavaScript/Node.js
  • Containers: Docker Compose for local orchestration
  • API: REST for application integration

Challenges Overcome

1. Steep Learning Curve

Problem: I had never worked with enterprise blockchain.
Solution: Months of studying documentation, tutorials, and trial/error.

2. Multi-Organization Network Deployment

Problem: Configuring multiple nodes and certificates is complex.
Solution: Automated scripts and detailed process documentation.

3. Industry Terminology

Problem: I didn’t know the seafood industry.
Solution: Interviews with experts and visits to processing plants.

Impact

  • Thesis approved with distinction
  • Functional prototype deployed on virtual server
  • Concept validation with industry stakeholders
  • Complete documentation for future implementations

Learnings

  • Blockchain isn’t just cryptocurrencies; it has real enterprise applications
  • Academic research can solve real-world problems
  • Understanding the problem domain is as important as the technology