RFiD Discovery transforms management of fish boxes in French harbours in Brittany

RFiD Discovery tracks returnable transport items (RTIs) in French fishing harbours

A new RFiD Discovery solution has been successfully implemented to track returnable transport items (RTIs) in fishing harbours in Brittany, France.

Handheld mobile RFID scanner being used to capture data of fish boxes in harbour

Cornouaille is the largest fresh fishing area in France, representing one fifth of the national fishing industry. Fish markets exist in six of the seven harbours in the area, which are managed by the Metropolitan Brittany Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIMBO). This means the organisation is responsible for the provision, sorting, cleaning, storage and transport of the fish boxes.

In 2020, CCIMBO set out to identify an RFID-based solution to streamline the flow of fish storage boxes with the following main objectives:

Reduce the loss of boxes (typically a third of the pool each year) and as a result minimise the costs of replacing them
Ensure that there are always sufficient boxes available at the right place at the right time for fishermen and buyers

At the end of 2020 the CCIMBO selected Paragon ID to provide their RFiD Discovery asset tracking and RTLS solution. The solution was developed and deployed during 2021 by Paragon ID and its French subsidiary Apitrak in co-operation with the CCIMBO.

The integrated solution includes fixed and mobile RFID readers as well as the RFiD Discovery asset tracking software including mobile and web applications. This enables the harbour management to track and monitor the flow of reusable fish boxes and to access additional information within the supply chain to improve traceability of the fish itself.

The solution is now fully working in the six markets in Cornouaille, delivering measurable results. In fact, data shows that the two main objectives of this project have already been achieved.

The Paragon ID team continues to work with the CCIMBO to develop the solution by creating additional functionality to bring even more benefits to the various organisations in the fishing industry.

Arron Duddin, Smart Solutions Director, RFiD Discovery, says:

"We are absolutely delighted that our RFiD Discovery system, provided through our parent company Paragon ID in France, is delivering such an effective solution for the CCIMBO and Cornouaille’s auction teams. This successful implementation highlights how our asset tracking system combines our industrial and technological expertise to provide complete traceability solutions which bring tangible value to the end user."

Christophe HAMEL, Director of the Cornouaille auctions adds:

"Paragon ID's expertise in RFID technology and, above all, its agility in adapting its solutions to achieve optimal readings in a hostile environment containing a lot of seawater and metal have made it possible to carry out this project. This offers an undeniable technological, logistical and environmental breakthrough in the process of managing reusable boxes in the fresh fish industry.

After four months of use, the results are very satisfactory: the boxes are returned, and the usage cycles are shortened. The middleware solution developed allows data to be processed and made available in real time, as expected by professionals.

The standardised solution deployed by Paragon ID in our 6 auctions opens the door to potential management on a wider perimeter, particularly on a regional basis.”