New automated machine brings humane stunning and tailing to Nephrops at sea
In today’s nephrops (langoustine) fishery, the standard practice is to manually remove the tails from live animals shortly after they are caught. Without any form of stunning, nephrops remain fully conscious during tailing.
This is a process that raises serious animal welfare concerns. In many cases, the head and body continue to show signs of life for twenty minutes, or even longer, before the animal dies.
With decapod crustaceans now officially recognised as sentient under the UK’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, the seafood industry is facing growing pressure to improve how nephrops are handled at sea.
A new chapter in nephrops handling
Together with a broad coalition of partners from across the UK seafood supply chain, Optimar has helped develop and test a prototype machine that stuns and tails nephrops automatically while still on board fishing vessels. In May 2025, the machine underwent its first successful sea trial aboard a commercial fishing boat, marking a major milestone for humane seafood processing at sea.
Built to endure the demanding conditions of commercial fishing, the machine represents a new era of automation that offers significant benefits:
Improved animal welfare through stunning before tailing
Better working conditions for crew
More consistent, efficient, and hygienic onboard processing
A Collaborative effort for sustainable change
This innovation was made possible by a unique partnership of seafood businesses, catchers, processors, retailers, academic institutions, and technology experts — with funding from both industry and the UK Government’s Fisheries and Seafood Scheme.
“This collaboration has achieved something that has never been done before and will be the catalyst for more innovation to come,”
says Kara Brydson, Executive Director at Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability (FIS).
The project began with early concept discussions during Animal Welfare Week in Ålesund, Norway, hosted by Marks & Spencer and Optimar in March 2023. Just two months later, the coalition aligned on a shared mission: to design and test the first onboard nephrops stunning and tailing machine — not just as a concept, but as a practical, sea-ready solution.
Read more here: Nephrops prototype machine
What is next?
Although the prototype is still being refined, this first successful sea trial proves that automated, humane nephrops processing at sea is not only possible — it’s within reach. The project now enters a new phase of testing and development to optimize the solution for broader adoption across the UK fishing fleet.
At Optimar, we are committed to fish handling with care — and that includes crustaceans like nephrops. We believe in creating solutions that make seafood processing more humane, sustainable, and future-ready.
