Analyzing the Barriers in the Seafood Packaging Industry using Fuzzy DEMATEL

The seafood packaging industry plays a vital role in ensuring the preservation, safety, and quality of seafood products throughout the supply chain. The seafood packaging industry faces various barriers that can impact product quality, consumer satisfaction, and overall industry performance. This research aims to identify and analyze the critical barriers in the seafood packaging industry using the Fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method. Through a comprehensive literature review and expert opinions, a set of barriers was identified. The Fuzzy DEMATEL method was applied to assess the interrelationships among these barriers and determine their criticality. The findings reveal that serious user information leakage, economic crisis, and gas barriers emerged as the most critical barriers, posing significant challenges to the seafood packaging industry. These barriers have far-reaching implications for consumer trust, operational efficiency, and sustainability. By understanding the critical barriers and their interdependencies, industry stakeholders can develop targeted strategies and interventions to overcome these challenges. The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights for decision-makers, policymakers, and industry practitioners to enhance the overall performance and competitiveness of the seafood packaging industry. © 2023, The Institution of Engineers (India).