Robots Aid Salmon Catch With Humane, Sustainable Harvesting

Robots are now assisting fishing crews in Alaska's Cook Inlet during the sockeye salmon season, offering a more rapid and humane harvesting method. The Poseidon S robot, developed by startup Shinkei Systems, is being integrated onto partner fishing vessels. This technology aims to improve upon traditional methods that can result in fish slowly asphyxiating on deck.

The Poseidon S operates by having crews hand-feed caught salmon into the tall metal box. Utilizing computer vision, the robot identifies the fish species, pinpoints a specific spot on the skull, and then swiftly dispatches the fish by driving a spike through the hindbrain before severing the gills. The entire process takes approximately seven seconds, with the fish being deposited into ice immediately after. Shinkei's founder, Saif Khawaja, described the robot's function as performing "the equivalent of surgery on these fish in a very difficult maritime environment."

This robotic process replicates "ike jime" and "shinkei jime," precise slaughter techniques traditionally used for fish served in high-end sushi restaurants in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York. These methods are considered the most humane ways to kill a fish. Furthermore, chefs at establishments like Daniel and Atelier Crenn have noted that fish processed using the Shinkei method reportedly taste better.

Shinkei Systems, headquartered in El Segundo, California, was founded by Khawaja four years ago in New York before relocating to California. The company's name, "shinkei," is a Japanese word meaning "sensitive," aligning with the company's ethos. Shinkei Systems installs the Poseidon S robot at no cost to fishermen and offers a premium price for their catch in return for its use.