EveryFish 3rd Annual Meeting in Norwich

At ASSIST Software, we take pride in significantly impacting global challenges, particularly through our involvement in EU-funded projects that drive meaningful change across various sectors. Rooted in our company culture of innovation, responsibility, and inclusivity, our work promotes sustainability, drives digital transformation, and fosters accessibility—reflecting our unwavering commitment to delivering impactful solutions through technological excellence.

One such project is EveryFish, which has reached a significant milestone: the end of its second year of implementation and the midpoint of the project. This milestone was marked by the 3rd Annual Meeting hosted by the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, on January 21-22, 2025.

EveryFish, coordinated by SINTEF Ocean, aims to develop and test innovative software solutions for fully automated catch recording and reporting on European fishing vessels. Using AI and computer vision, it monitors fish captures by species and size to prevent over-fishing. Data is securely stored in a blockchain-based database to support regulatory enforcement. ASSIST is building a DLT-based traceability system that enhances supply chain visibility and supports regulatory enforcement. Together, these initiatives promote responsible fishing practices and safeguard marine ecosystems. 

The meeting in Norwich provided an excellent opportunity for all partners to review the progress made over the last 12 months of project implementation, discuss technical challenges, and plan the next steps to ensure the project continues its successful trajectory.

On the first day of the meeting, each partner delivered a comprehensive presentation on their achievements, challenges, and milestones, showcasing their contributions to the project's overall framework.

The second day was dedicated to refining the roadmap for the next 12 months, setting clear, actionable goals for each partner. Additionally, a Q&A session fostered in-depth discussions and knowledge-sharing, enabling a better understanding of the necessary steps and how partners can collaborate effectively to achieve the project's overarching objectives. 

Present at the 3rd Annual Meeting, our colleagues, Petru Cioată and Sergiu Lupăiescu, provided an overview of the progress made by ASSIST on the DLT module, along with the development plans for the upcoming year. The presentation covered both the DLT module’s overall functionality, and detailed information on each microservice involved. 

The DLT system consists of 3 main components or microservices, as follows: 

• The DLT API – This module aggregates data from different data providers and ensures data integrity. 
• The Hyperledger Core – At the heart of the system, it handles secure, decentralized data storage.  
• The User Management Module – This module ensures that the right people have access to the right data while keeping everything secure. 

The 3rd Annual Meeting of the EveryFish project was a pivotal moment for all partners involved, reinforcing our collective commitment to advancing sustainable fisheries management through innovative technology. The discussions and plans laid out during the meeting have set a clear path forward, ensuring that we continue to build on our successes and tackle upcoming challenges with a unified approach. 

ASSIST Software remains dedicated to contributing its expertise in DLT and other cutting-edge technologies to this important initiative. We look forward to the continued collaboration with our partners and the positive impact EveryFish will have on fisheries management and marine conservation in Europe. 

EveryFish - Digital transition of catch monitoring in European Fisheries - is a project funded by Horizon Europe - HORIZON-CL6-2021-FARM2FORK-01-11: Digital transition supporting inspection and control for sustainable fisheries (IA) program, with Grant Agreement ID number 101059892.