The new Australian Wildlife Traceability System (AWTS) is a world-first digital platform that tracks coral through the supply chain, enhancing traceability and supporting the sustainable management and trade of wildlife resources.
AWTS was designed with government, industry and scientists. It was built by OriginsNext, an Australian technology company.
The secure digital platform will:
- make the coral trade more open and easier to oversee
- track wildlife through the supply chain
- give buyers and trading partners at home and overseas more confidence
- help businesses follow Australian and international trade rules.
How it works
Secure tags give each piece of coral a unique digital ID and a verified record. Approved users can scan the ID to:
- check where the coral came from
- find out if it was taken from the wild, grown in an aquaculture facility (a farm) or bred in captivity
- follow it through a trusted supply chain
This will build trust, help businesses follow the rules and make it harder for illegal, unreported and unregulated wildlife trade to occur.
Legal, sustainable and traceable
AWTS helps Australia meet its duties under two sets of rules. One is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), Australia's national environment law. The other is CITES, an international agreement on trade in endangered species.
What comes next
AWTS was built for coral first. In future, it could also be used to track other native Australian animals and plants.
The system strengthens Australia's leadership in sustainable coral trade and trusted wildlife supply chains. It is funded by the Reef Trust and supports Australia's wider commitment to protecting the reef, managing fisheries sustainably and caring for the environment.
