Optimar is a key technology partner in the development of the nephrops stunning & tailing machine, which has nabbed the first-ever Catch Welfare Innovation Award.
The machine is designed to automate both stunning and tailing, a process that is otherwise carried out manually, and the award highlights ways to improve both animal welfare and working conditions in the seafood industry, marking a significant breakthrough for the UK nephrops fishery.
Manual handling is both demanding and physically challenging for the crew, while also presenting challenges related to animal welfare. The award-winning prototype offers a more humane process and provides a safer and more efficient workflow on board.
‘At Optimar, we rely on our experience to ensure good animal welfare by stunning the nephrops first. After that, the process is handled by a machine that uses the latest camera technology and machine learning to divide each nephrops into a tail portion and a head portion,’ explained Lars André Langøyli Giske at Optimar.
The machine was tested on board Golden Ray in May 2025, where it delivered stable performance under real, high-pressure conditions. Optimar has contributed key mechanical and technical aspects, working closely with fishermen and research partners to ensure seamless integration of the technology across different vessel types.
‘This project shows what’s possible when the entire industry works toward the same goal. The technology has to withstand real life at sea, and that’s exactly the standard we set at Optimar,’ said Optimar’s Mårten Jørgensen.
The project is the result of a broad industry effort led by the UK trade organization FIS (Fisheries, Innovation & Sustainability). For Optimar, the award is a clear confirmation that targeted development work, hands-on testing, and close collaboration with end-users are what create solutions that genuinely make a difference, for both the crew and the catch.
Further steps focus on development, commercialisation, and supporting the industry as it adapts to new animal welfare requirements
