Automation, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence in Seafood Processing: Advancements, Challenges, and Future Prospects.

This review presents a comprehensive analysis of automation and robotics in the seafood processing industry, emphasizing their role in enhancing efficiency, product quality, food safety, and sustainability. It explores the application of advanced technologies such as robotics, blockchain, computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) across various stages of seafood processing, including sorting, cleaning, grading, cutting, filleting, packaging, and quality assessment. The review highlights the emergence of intelligent packaging and labeling systems that improve traceability, extend shelf life, and support cold chain integrity. Key benefits of automation such as reduced labor dependency, increased yield, improved hygiene, and waste reduction are discussed alongside industry challenges, including high implementation costs, technical integration issues, and regulatory constraints. Additionally, the review examines future trends such as soft robotics, predictive analytics, and cloud-based monitoring, which are shaping the next generation of smart seafood factories. Unlike previous generalized reviews on food automation, this review provides a seafood-processing-specific synthesis integrating robotics, AI, machine vision, smart packaging, blockchain traceability, and Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies with critical discussion of industrial implementation challenges and future smart factory applications. Overall, it underscores the pivotal role of digital technologies in transforming global seafood processing systems.