SeafoodAI, a Palo Alto-based startup, has launched an AI-powered device designed to automate and streamline labour-intensive crab fishing operations for small and medium-sized seafood businesses.
Its flagship product, CrabScan360, uses sensors, machine vision, and AI software to scan and analyse crabs in real time, recording details such as size, weight, sex, and legal status. This allows fishers to immediately determine which crabs can be kept and which must be returned to the sea in compliance with fishing regulations.
The product is available in two configurations. The field version, launched in April, is portable and built for use on boats and docks. The second, still in development, is a fully automated factory version that scans and sorts crabs on a conveyor belt. Both generate individual data records for each crab, which are uploaded to the cloud.
These records create a digital fingerprint for every crab, enabling full traceability through the supply chain, from harvest to processor. The tool also provides dashboards showing average size, yield, and legal catch rates. This visibility supports data-driven pricing, supply planning, and quality control.
The technology aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure compliance with sustainability standards. With major retailers committing to sustainable seafood sourcing by 2027, tools like CrabScan360 could help suppliers more easily meet certification requirements.
SeafoodAI plans to expand its offering to include scanning tools for other high-value seafood products, such as tuna, salmon, and shrimp. It also aims to build a centralised data platform to connect harvesters, processors, and regulators, offering real-time harvest data to improve transparency and decision-making across the value chain.