AI becomes a 'crab-catching assistant'.

The seafood industry, especially crab fishing, is traditionally arduous, manual, and requires meticulous attention to detail at every stage. But that may soon change with AI.

SeafoodAI has produced a "crab-catching assistant" for fishermen. Photo: Jason Henry for BI .

A tech startup in Palo Alto, California, called SeafoodAI, has created CrabScan360 – a device that uses AI to assist fishermen in measuring, classifying, and recording information on each crab they catch. They call it a "tireless sailor."

Crab fishing has long been considered one of the most arduous and physically demanding manual labor jobs in the seafood industry. Each trip out to sea requires fishermen to prepare traps, lower them to the seabed, mark the coordinates with GPS devices, and then return to shore to wait. After about 12 to 24 hours, or sometimes up to a week, they return to the same spot, pull up the nets, and begin sorting the crabs.

This process requires meticulous attention to detail and strict adherence to local regulations regarding the permitted size and weight of crabs for harvesting. Fishermen must measure each crab, determine its sex, classify it, count its quantity, and then manually record the information in a logbook. This is very time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially in the context of a market increasingly focused on sustainable, traceable products.

CrabScan360 was launched in two versions. A small, portable version was released in April. The device is about the size of a carry-on suitcase and can be quickly installed on boats or at the port. Fishermen simply place each crab on the device, and the system automatically takes photos, analyzes, and records the necessary parameters. All data is stored instantly.

A second version is under development for processing plants. The device operates fully automatically. Crabs are placed on a conveyor belt and pass through a scanning system. Each crab is analyzed and sorted according to its own criteria. Each scan generates an electronic record linked to the time, location, and complete information about that crab. This data is uploaded to a cloud storage platform and can be accessed remotely.

According to Rob Terry, founder and CEO of SeafoodAI, this technology creates a "digital fingerprint" for each crab. This allows users to track the entire journey of each batch of crabs, from the trap to the factory, from the time of catching to the final processing stage. This not only reduces errors and losses but also creates a clear and transparent supply chain.

As major retail chains like Walmart, Costco, and Whole Foods commit to selling only sustainably certified seafood products from 2027 onwards, the need for traceability is becoming a mandatory requirement. SeafoodAI's technology can help fishermen and small businesses meet this requirement without requiring massive investment.

Not stopping at crab, SeafoodAI is expanding its research to apply AI technology to data collection and analysis for other seafood species such as tuna, salmon, and shrimp. Each species has different biological characteristics and evaluation requirements, demanding separate sensor systems and AI models. The company hopes to build a large database connecting fishermen, factories, regulatory agencies, and distributors in real time. This is expected to bring efficiency and transparency to the entire supply chain, especially for small and medium-sized producers.

Terry stated that their goal is to develop a modern, easy-to-implement solution that aligns with rapidly changing global consumer trends. This solution will not only optimize the fishing process but also contribute to enhancing the value and reputation of seafood products for fishermen.

Source: https://znews.vn/ai-thanh-tro-ly-bat-cua-post1552195.html