An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.

An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.

A method and an apparatus for bringing fish to an under-cooled state by a sub-chilling process before processing, which prolongs rigor and allows processing of the fish in rigor providing better quality fish products.

A method is used in the production of principal products conveyed in plurality along a processing line, consisting of fish, poultry or other meat which contains, in addition to the principal products to be obtained, inedible components to be removed (removal components) and also contains edible by-products remaining on said removal components. The edible by-products remain on the removal components after removal. The method includes: loading a separating device with a batch of fish, poultry or other meat; separating the principal products of this batch from the removal components, comprising by-products, of said batch; separating the by-products from the removal components; producing a by-product brine from the by-products by comminuting the by-products and mixing with water and stabiliser; and injecting a defined quantity of the by-product brine into the principal products, wherein principal products and the by-products contained in the by-product brine come from the same batch.

A method is used in the production of principal products conveyed in plurality along a processing line, consisting of fish, poultry or other meat which contains, in addition to the principal products to be obtained, inedible components to be removed (removal components) and also contains edible by-products remaining on said removal components. The edible by-products remain on the removal components after removal. The method includes: loading a separating device with a batch of fish, poultry or other meat; separating the principal products of this batch from the removal components, comprising by-products, of said batch; separating the by-products from the removal components; producing a by-product brine from the by-products by comminuting the by-products and mixing with water and stabiliser; and injecting a defined quantity of the by-product brine into the principal products, wherein principal products and the by-products contained in the by-product brine come from the same batch.

A fish processing system includes a measurement sensor configured to measure a distance across a head of a fish as the fish moves along a conveyor. A drive mechanism provides movement of a blade across a transport path of the fish along the conveyor in response to the determined distance to accurately sever the head of the fish based on the size of the fish. The system may also include a detection sensor for closing a wall of a trough to reject fish with heads that are not properly removed by the blade as well as an adjustment cylinder to vary a position of a conveyor relative to a fish processing subsystem to avoid jamming. Related methods for severing a portion of each fish in a series of transported fish based on the size of each fish are also provided.

An apparatus for saddling fish on holding apparatuses for further processing comprises: a frame structure; a transport device on the frame structure, for transporting fish tail first and abdominal cavity downwards in a direction T along a transport path, wherein the transport device comprises: a transport unit that is driven rotatingly, and a holding apparatus on the transport unit comprising a fastening element and a holding plate for holding the fish during processing; a feed device for feeding the fish into a region of the transport device; a catching and centring device to catch and centre the fish parallel to the transport direction T; and a take-over device for taking the fish from the catching and centring device, holding the fish, and releasing the fish as soon as a holding apparatus transported through the fish captures the fish and pulls them from the take-over device.

An apparatus for saddling fish on holding apparatuses for further processing comprises: a frame structure; a transport device on the frame structure, for transporting fish tail first and abdominal cavity downwards in a direction T along a transport path, wherein the transport device comprises: a transport unit that is driven rotatingly, and a holding apparatus on the transport unit comprising a fastening element and a holding plate for holding the fish during processing; a feed device for feeding the fish into a region of the transport device; a catching and centring device to catch and centre the fish parallel to the transport direction T; and a take-over device for taking the fish from the catching and centring device, holding the fish, and releasing the fish as soon as a holding apparatus transported through the fish captures the fish and pulls them from the take-over device.