Overseas
e-Fish: the Digital Heart of Fish Markets at Origin – In Italy’s commercial fishing and aquaculture landscape, talking about digitalization inevitably means talking about e-Fish, the technological brand developed by GO Infoteam, an Italian ICT group with over twenty years of experience and a strong reputation for designing software solutions tailored to the seafood supply chain.
As early as 2005, when digital traceability and environmental responsibility were still emerging concepts, Infoteam was already anticipating industry needs by introducing digital systems to manage auctions in first sale fish markets. This pioneering approach made the company a benchmark in the sector. Strategic locations such as Pescara, Giulianova, Livorno, Civitanova Marche, Porto Garibaldi, Porto Santo Stefano, Manfredonia, Termoli, Sciacca, Schiavonea, and Syracuse are now part of an advanced ecosystem that has grown in productivity, traceability, and sustainability.
Today, e-Fish is much more than an auction system: it is a modular, integrated platform that covers the entire value chain, from artisanal fishing to large-scale retail, from on-board operations to end consumers. The platform includes dedicated modules for real-time online auctions, document and tax management, Blockchain and RFID traceability, brand enhancement for supply chains, and a B2B marketplace for seafood products.
It is increasingly clear that the traditional business model of fish markets, centered exclusively around physical auction halls and based on price negotiation dynamics, requires a rapid transformation. The market must adapt to new dynamics and the steady decline in raw material availability. Despite some resistance to technological innovation, digitalization may be the most effective means to meet these challenges and revitalize the competitiveness of the entire industry.
This is why GO Infoteam, through ongoing Research & Development, has created and launched new solutions that expand the operational scope of fish markets and project them into the future.
One of the most strategic innovations is the ability to anticipate sales during fishing operations. With e-Fish, new marketing models can be activated directly from the fishing vessels, thanks to integration with e-logbook systems and digital modules for real-time negotiations at sea. Professional buyers can even pre-order products days in advance, securing selected lots and streamlining sales planning.
For species less in demand, often penalized by traditional auction logic despite being abundant, e-Fish has developed a digital asynchronous negotiation system. This accelerates the sales process, reduces unsold inventory, and enables markets to become more responsive and data-driven. Additional features for selling bivalve mollusks and other products previously excluded from auction dynamics are also opening the door to commercial diversification. This ensures greater product value and enhances the sector’s resilience and competitiveness, critical in facing today’s challenges.
This technological evolution has already enabled operators to make a significant qualitative leap forward: lower operating costs, optimized logistics, increased market visibility, and, above all, tamper-proof traceability, now essential for entering the most demanding markets. For instance, the e-Fish ChainBox system integrates RFID and Blockchain to ensure data authenticity and uses recyclable, reusable, and washable plastic crates in line with the EU directive on single-use plastics. This makes it possible to trace the full journey of each product—from sea to consumer, ensuring transparency and accuracy at every step.
Yet, e-Fish’s commitment goes beyond technology. The GO Infoteam team has always stood alongside its clients, supporting their growth and innovation, even during difficult times. In recent years, with the fishing sector facing a sharp decline in activity and shrinking margins, e-Fish has strengthened its role as a strategic partner by supporting businesses in adopting new technologies and building strong, recognizable supply chain identities that highlight local excellence, facilitate access to new markets, and improve consumer perception.
A crucial element in this transformation is access to European funding. The e-Fish team offers hands-on support to companies applying for EMFAF (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) calls, an essential tool for financing digital, infrastructural, and promotional investments. From project writing to final reporting, Infoteam assists every step of the way, helping businesses innovate sustainably and efficiently.
At the same time, e-Fish is expanding internationally, aiming to export Italian-developed technology to Southern Mediterranean countries, with a particular focus on pre-accession EU markets. In these regions, the adoption of advanced traceability and transparency systems is a key driver for regulatory and commercial recognition.
Innovation at e-Fish is driven by continuous Research & Development activities, with growing investments and solid partnerships, from Horizon Europe projects like Novafoodies, to national clusters such as Blue Italian Growth (BIG), and Competence Centers including Cyber 4.0 and ICT/Space Domain Abruzzo. Here, sustainability is not a slogan, but a concrete goal that guides all technological development: from smart labeling for consumers to food alert systems for aquaculture.
Today, e-Fish stands as a flagship of Italian excellence in the digitalization of seafood supply chains, with a clear vision toward a sustainable and responsible Blue Economy. A vision renewed every day by a multidisciplinary team and the trust of clients who, by choosing e-Fish, choose a more competitive, transparent, and environmentally conscious future.
e-Fish: the Digital Heart of Fish Markets at Origin
