A prototype machine that could reshape working conditions and animal-welfare standards in the UK nephrops fishery has won the inaugural Catch Welfare Innovation Award, with Norway-based Optimar recognised as the key technological force behind it.
The Nephrops Stunning & Tailing Machine, developed with industry partners, automates two of the most laborious tasks on board – stunning and tailing – both of which are still carried out manually on most vessels.
The new system aims to address both issues by reducing strain on workers and introducing a more consistent, humane process for processing the catch.
“At Optimar, we rely on our experience to ensure good animal welfare by stunning the nephrops first,” explained Lars André Langøyli Giske of Optimar.
“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.”
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The prototype was put to the test on board the Golden Ray in May 2025, where it reportedly performed reliably under commercial conditions.
Optimar engineers say the project only succeeded because the technology was pushed to withstand real onboard pressures. “This project shows what’s possible when the entire industry works toward the same goal,” said sales manager, Mårten Jørgensen.
“The technology has to withstand real life at sea, and that’s exactly the standard we set at Optimar.”
The project was led by UK trade body Fisheries, Innovation & Sustainability and brought together fishermen, technologists and researchers. With the award secured, the team now turns to refining the system, preparing for commercial rollout and helping fleets meet rising expectations around animal welfare.
