"Ikejime": Robot processes fish in a "humane way" and improves taste
The Japanese fish processing method "Ikejime" is intended to make fish tastier and more durable. However, the process is expensive. Robots take over the task.
A Poseidon robot (silver box on the middle boat) is used to process freshly caught fish using the Ikejime method.
(Image: Screeshot/Shinkei Systems)
With its Poseidon robots, Californian start-up Shinkei Systems wants to revive the traditional Japanese fish processing method known as "Ikejime". The robots will use this method to manually kill freshly caught fish on board ships in a "humane way". Humans used to carry out this labor-intensive and therefore expensive process until it was largely discontinued for reasons of profitability. Ikejime does, however, have some advantages: The fish is said to taste more delicious, have a better texture and last longer.
Only a few restaurants in the USA offer fish processed with Ikejime. The process is usually too expensive, even for high-end restaurants. Shinkei Systems senses an opportunity here to make big money and sell fish processed in this traditional Japanese way to high-end restaurants at a profit. The company promises to make this fish cheaper and therefore more available by automating the processing procedure.
Stress-free fish processing
Using the Ikejime process means a quick death for the fish. Its brain is pierced with a skewer while it is still alive and its gills are severed. Sometimes the spinal cord is also interrupted with a further cut. This prevents the formation of stress hormones and lactic acid, which can affect the taste of the fish. This is because fish often suffocate in agony on fishing boats, releasing stress hormones and producing lactic acid.
The extra-high Poseidon robots in the form of a cabinet automate the Ikejime process, but do not cut the spinal cord. The fish is inserted into the robot through an opening. Artificial intelligence (AI) identifies the species of fish and determines where the brain and gills are located. The robot processes the fish and then places it on an ice sponge to bleed it. The fish is not frozen in order to maintain the high quality.
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Four of the Poseidon robots are already in use on ships in the Pacific and Atlantic. Shinkei Systems plans to deploy a further ten robots on fishing boats in 2025.
(olb)
