A system for processing shellfish includes an input hopper that receives a batch of shellfish to be processed. A conveyer is positioned to receive shellfish from the input hopper and transports the shellfish through the system. The conveyor defines a plurality of holes that allow cleaning substances to pass through the conveyor. A washing system comprising a least one nozzle that dispenses cleaning substances to the shellfish being transported by the conveyor. An operator station includes at least one container for depositing market-ready shellfish passing along the conveyor. At least one optical sensor is positioned to detect the market-ready shellfish being placed into the at least one container. A counter is electrically connected to the optical sensor and records a number of shellfish being placed in the at least one container. An output hopper is positioned proximate to an end of the conveyor to catch rejected shellfish.

A separation and singulation system for presenting shrimps or other product individually to a processor. The separation and singulation system includes a divider pan that separates a layer of shrimp into several lanes, a shaker pan that receives the lanes of shrimp and agitates them to separate clumps of shrimp and a flume for providing further singulation and acceleration of the shrimp. The singulated, separated shrimps are then sent to a processor.

An inspection station and a method of inspecting products for anomalies. The inspection station comprises a trough and a light source. The trough channels a flow of product-laden water along its length. The light source illuminates the product through the water from below, making product anomalies detectable by visual inspection. In that way, products with anomalies, such as shrimp with residual veins, can be culled and reprocessed.

A method for inspecting peeled shrimp by human operators in a culling station illuminated by ambient visible light and in a dark shell-detection booth illuminated by ultraviolet (UV) lamps. The UV radiation emitted by the lamps is filtered to remove visible light from the filtered UV irradiating the shrimp in the dark booth. Irradiated shrimp shell fluoresces and is detectable by the naked eye. A human operator in the dark booth detects the fluorescing shell and removes those shrimps.

A crab gauge and cleaning tool with a base and a blade having an arched upper edge and a lower edge, a coupling for removably attaching the blade to the base such that when attached the blade extends upwardly from the base in a central area of the top surface and a blade storage for securing the blade to the base, and wherein the blade has a first mounting foot and a second mounting foot with the space between the mounting feet defining a measuring distance for measuring shellfish.

An inspection station and a method of inspecting products for anomalies. The inspection station comprises a trough and a light source. The trough channels a flow of product-laden water along its length. The light source illuminates the product through the water from below, making product anomalies detectable by visual inspection. In that way, products with anomalies, such as shrimp with residual veins, can be culled and reprocessed.

A system for processing shellfish includes an input hopper that receives a batch of shellfish to be processed. A conveyer is positioned to receive shellfish from the input hopper and transports the shellfish through the system. The conveyor defines a plurality of holes that allow cleaning substances to pass through the conveyor. A washing system comprising a least one nozzle that dispenses cleaning substances to the shellfish being transported by the conveyor. An operator station includes at least one container for depositing market-ready shellfish passing along the conveyor. At least one optical sensor is positioned to detect the market-ready shellfish being placed into the at least one container. A counter is electrically connected to the optical sensor and records a number of shellfish being placed in the at least one container. An output hopper is positioned proximate to an end of the conveyor to catch rejected shellfish.

A separation and singulation system for presenting shrimps or other product individually to a processor. The separation and singulation system includes a divider pan that separates a layer of shrimp into several lanes, a shaker pan that receives the lanes of shrimp and agitates them to separate clumps of shrimp and a flume for providing further singulation and acceleration of the shrimp. The singulated, separated shrimps are then sent to a processor.

A crab butchering machine removes the carapace, mandibles and tail from a crab by timing actuation of tools depending upon the measured dimensions of the carapace. A measuring tool determines the location of the front and rear of the carapace relative to the saddle, securing and advancing the crab through the machine. The positions of the ends of the tools that operate on the crab are known. After measuring, the crab is advanced into a calculated position relative to a first tool, whereby an arm moves upwards, separating the carapace from the crab. The crab is next advanced past a 10 second tool that lifts the carapace away from the crab carcass, allowing a third tool to move upwards, separating the carapace and tail from the carcass when the saddle is in a second calculated position. The remaining leg clusters are separated and released from the saddle for further processing.

The invention relates to a fishing system (102), a fish processing line (18, 22) and/or vessel (2) provided therewith, and a method (26) therefor. The fishing system (102) according to the invention comprises a fishing net (6) for catching shrimps or fish; transfer means (14, 15, 16) connected operatively to the fishing net (6) for bringing on board the caught shrimps or fish; an automatic detection device (18) configured to detect, classify and if desired sort the shrimps or fish brought on board; a registration system (104) connected operatively to the detection device (18) and configured to receive, store and read and/or transmit data (108) obtained with the detection device (18) about the shrimps or fish brought on board, wherein the data (108) comprise information about the quantity, classification and location of the caught shrimps or fish.