SeafoodSource is closely following seafood processing and equipment innovation by compiling a regular round-up of updates from the sector.
- Miami, Florida, U.S.A.-based Blue Star Foods is performing a pilot study to use AI and UV light to improve the efficiency of identifying molting crabs.
The company, which raises crab in a recirculating aquaculture system, said that it plans to use both AI and UV lights to identify when its Atlantic blue crab are at the optimal time to harvest. Harvesting the crabs at the precise moment they have molted – before they grow a new shell – is crucial to the business, Blue Star Foods said.
“The current traditional method of manual inspection for identifying molting crabs is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, resulting, in our view, in high mortality rates and operational inefficiencies,” the company said.
The new technology will use UV lighting systems that will help an AI learn how to recognize when a crab is molting based on fluorescence changes.
“This groundbreaking initiative represents a significant step forward in transforming the soft-shell crab shedding process, paving the way for increased operational survival rates, reduced labor costs, and, hence, improved profitability,” the company said.
- Lutz, Florida, U.S.A.-based Eagle Product Inspection has debuted a new four-view X-ray machine for product inspection.
Eagle Product produces X-Ray inspection technology for the food-processing and -production industry, creating equipment for red meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Its latest “QuadView” X-ray machine is designed for the high-speed inspection of jars, bottles, and upright containers, the company said in a release.
According to Eagle Products, its new inspection machine provides four-view detection coverage and eliminates blind spots that can occur on the bottom of containers. The QuadView is capable of performing multiple inspections at line speeds exceeding 1,000 PPM.
- Iceland-based salmon-farming company Arnarlax has entered a strategic partnership with software firm Oceans of Data.
Oceans of Data said the new partnership will see it leverage datasets with AI and predictive analytics to help Arnarlax more precisely plan its harvests.
“By monitoring various data points, including global supply updates, they can track salmon growth and health more effectively, helping them understand the optimal harvest and production times,” Oceans of Data said. “Although some advanced predictive features are still in development, they promise to enable real-time adjustments based on current conditions.”
Oceans of Data said it is using “ANNA,” a new generative AI data solution that will support Arnarlax in integrating and analyzing its datasets, covering biomass, harvest data, production, exports, prices, and environmental factors.
“ANNA enables the Arnarlax team to effortlessly access and interpret data, supporting their decision-making processes,” Oceans of Data said.
- Garware Technical Fibres has launched a new line of ropes specifically designed for the Chilean mussel-farming industry.
The company said its new rope has been designed with cultivating mussels in mind and is UV-stabilized to be more durable in aquatic environments.
“The shape of our rope allows the mussel to adhere more efficiently. Its polypropylene fibres are highly fibrillated loops, thus offering resistance as a support for the growth of the mussel,” Garware Technical Fibres Chile Commercial Manager Francisco Serra said in a release.
The company said its ropes are also a continuous coil, making it easy to handle and store.
“The synergy between the experience and technical knowledge of Garware Technical Fibers, together with the growing demand for specialized products for aquaculture, make this business expansion a promising strategy both for the company and for the development and strengthening of the mussel farming sector,” Serra said.
