Whitefish processing challenge or opportunity?

1. Equipment flexibility to turn unreliable fish stock and seasonal shifts into market opportunities

Wild whitefish of all species are facing the impact of environmental changes which affect ocean temperatures, pollutants, stock numbers, and movements. While fluctuation in fishing grounds and numbers has long been something for fishers and fish processors to contend with, there is no denying that in recent years, this added climatic shift has pressured the industry to unprecedented levels. Fishers face changes to wild quotas, and increased efforts for global fish management, i.e., CATCH, tracking and regulations to reduce illegal fishing and ensure the sustainability of both the fish and the industry. Outside of environmental issues, trade agreements and risks are forcing processors to rethink their market access for both wild caught and farmed whitefish.

So, where’s the opportunity? When it comes to processing, whitefish processors have an opportunity to open new markets in previously unfashionable fish and increase their focus on farmed whitefish including cod and seabass.

A crucial part of turning this challenge into a great opportunity for broader market reach is knowing your processing line can quickly and easily adapt to handle multiple fish species of a variety of weights with the same equipment. Keep your line flexible with advanced solutions such as the Curio Fish Filleting Machine C-2011. A dynamic fish filleter that, depending on its setup, can process whitefish from 400 g to 16 kg with the same accuracy and consistency. It is easy to adjust and clean, so you can switch between species including cod, hake, pollock, and saithe with minimum downtime. With the right equipment whitefish processors can be ready to take advantage of market and fish fluctuations.

2. Automation tips the challenge of meeting rising demand with less available labor to the positive

As the popularity of whitefish of all types continues to rise — Rabobank’s ‘Global Aquaculture Outlook 2025’ predicts a year-on-year growth of 2.5 % — whitefish processors have ever greater opportunities to expand their market share and boost profitability. Yet, in ironic correlation, as demand increases for whitefish products, the number of people willing to work on the processing floor is declining. To remain competitive, attracting and retaining staff is crucial, raising the question, how do processing businesses shift employment offerings to meet the expectations of today’s workers?

While processors in the position to build new facilities can use architecture as part of creating a more modern, employee friendly spaces. This is not the only option, by reducing reliance on staff for repetitive tasks, improving ergonomic design of stations, and increasing levels of automation on processing lines, processors of all sizes and situations can use to reduce their dependence on labor and offer better job development for employees.

The opportunities made by increasing automation and robotics in your processing lines are multiple:

• Reduce the number of people needed in production
• Improve food safety with less manual handling
• Increase yields with more consistent and accurate cuts, weights, trimming
• Optimize production flexibility
• Achieve consistent throughput
• Boost end product quality

Today’s automated solutions, such as the Curio Heading Machine C-3027, which can dehead a wide range of whitefish with accuracy, are simple to operate, and the MAJA ESB Whitefish Skinner range, which gently skins fresh fillets in an automatic, in-line operation; not only improve yields through optimized raw material utilization. Improving the sustainability of the industry.

3. Traceability means global regulatory compliance, greater food safety, better fish management

Add digital technology into the mix or stick with paper-based systems? Processors use data to meet regulations, run reports for audits, manage supplier standards, and make informed strategic decisions that keep your business moving forward. But the results are dependent on the quality of data you have and its accessibility. Digital systems empower businesses with automated collection of real-time data that helps them achieve operational excellence and auditor confidence. Which is why, when you look at manual record keeping systems with an objective eye, it is easy to see how paper-based systems reliant on manual entry slows down a business with unreliable, hard to access data.

Repetitive tasks – such as recording incoming product details – are prone to human error and increased staffing stress. It is virtually impossible to be confident in the accuracy of your data when recalling products or making strategic decisions to boost your business. Manual data collection hampers efficiency and future growth. Digital systems provide reliable, accurate records, and create a different work experience for employees, with jobs that are easier to learn and their skills being used for high value tasks.

Even the simplest electronic barcode system can enhance product tracking and traceability. JBT Marel’s food processing software makes product details including temperatures collected at key points, product origin, and end of line order management and distribution easily accessible. Food safety is at the highest level when you can track raw material from receiving, through processing, and onto dispatch. Correlating each batch to enable fast, specific recalls, accurate audits, simplified alignment with traceability regulations, and detailed labelling.

“Sometimes you get auditors that know of Marel, and straight off the bat, that puts them at ease,” said Enoch Robinson, Technical Manager, JK Thomson, Scotland. “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.”

Automating the collection of key data points at crucial stages of processing saves time, increases data accuracy, and provides you with the accurate information on catch, locations, dates, quality of fish and more that enables informed planning, and decision making that will keep your business adaptable and profitable.

There is no denying that whitefish processors face challenges in every area of the industry, from catch reliability to staff retention to market risk. Remaining competitive requires flexibility in business strategies and processing lines. While it can take time to adjust, opportunities for new markets and expanded product lines are waiting to be taken. And the best news is, the technology is already there to support sustainable growth and ensure you can see the opportunity behind any challenge.

Ready to be part of the future?