Photo: Marel/FIS

Marel: 'Automation and Digital Traceability Reshape the Whitefish Industry'

Facing pressure from labor shortages and stock instability, equipment flexibility becomes crucial for sustainable growth.

The whitefish processing industry faces a confluence of challenges, from environmental pressure and fishing stock instability to labor shortages and strict traceability regulations. However, Marel, one of the leading companies in food processing technology, identifies these challenges as key opportunities for sustainable growth and sector modernization.

1. Flexibility: Adapting to Stock Instability

Climate change, variations in ocean temperature, and stricter fishing quotas have pressured the industry to unprecedented levels. According to the FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) Report, approximately 35.4% of fish stocks globally were being exploited at a biologically unsustainable level in 2020. This instability is driving processors to seek more flexible business strategies.

Marel emphasizes that the opportunity lies in the ability of plants to process multiple species (including farmed fish like cod and seabass) and weights with the same equipment.

• Key Solution: The Curio Fish Filleting Machine C-2011, which can handle whitefish from 400g to 16 kg, allows processors to switch between species like cod, hake, pollock, and saithe with minimal downtime. This adaptability turns stock fluctuation into a market opportunity.

2. Automation: A Bulwark Against Labor Shortages

While global demand for whitefish continues to rise (annual growth of 2.5% in global aquaculture is projected for 2025, according to Rabobank), the sector faces a decline in labor availability. Automation is presented as a critical solution to maintain competitiveness and improve working conditions.

The integration of robotics and automated systems offers multifaceted benefits:

• Reduction of personnel in repetitive tasks.

• Improved food safety due to reduced manual handling.

• Increased yields with more precise and consistent cuts.

• Optimization of raw material utilization, contributing to sustainability.

• Technology Examples: Equipment like the Curio Heading Machine C-3027 and the MAJA ESB Whitefish Skinner range simplify complex operations, improving the ergonomics of workstations and allowing employees to focus on higher-value tasks.

3. Digital Traceability: The Foundation for Trust and Growth

Global regulatory compliance, such as CATCH tracking requirements and food safety management, demands rigorous traceability systems. Relying on paper-based systems has become inefficient, error-prone, and an obstacle to growth, as manual data collection hinders strategic decisions.

The digitalization of the data flow ensures:

• Regulatory Compliance: Facilitates audits and aligns with traceability regulations.

• Food Safety: Enables fast and specific product recalls by correlating each batch.

• Operational Efficiency: Digital systems automate the collection of key data points, such as product origin, locations, catch date, and temperatures.

Enoch Robinson, Technical Manager at JK Thomson, Scotland, highlights the effectiveness of these systems: “If someone gives you a barcode and four hours to do a trace, normally you can have it done within about 3 or 4 minutes."

Marel concludes that, while the challenges are undeniable, the technology needed to support sustainable growth and ensure adaptability is already available. The key to the future profitability of whitefish processing lies in adopting flexible strategies and digitally advanced production lines.

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