Opportunities for the Herring Industry to Optimize Operations Through Information Recording, Effective Traceability Systems, and Use of Advanced Data Analysis

ABSTRACT Two case studies of the herring industry reveal that insufficient data on processes and traceability are currently recorded onboard fishing vessels, at primary processing into marinated herring fillets and at secondary processing into small jars as pickled herring products. This means that the traceable unit of a batch of herring is at the level of a whole fishing trip, and that there is a disconnection in traceability along the chain. Data on process and product parameters are insufficient and precludes the use of modern data analysis to examine where improvements and greater efficiencies can be obtained. Suggestions and procedures to overcome these deficiencies are outlined and discussed.