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By Agroempresario.com
Shinkei Systems, the US-based seafood robotics company pioneering humane fish harvesting, has closed a $22 million Series A funding round, bringing its total capital raised to $30 million. The new investment will enable Shinkei to expand its innovative robotic fishing technology, Poseidon, into new commercial fishing fleets and retail outlets across the United States.
Founded by Reed Ginsberg and Saif Khawaja, Shinkei Systems combines advanced robotics with traditional Japanese fishing practices to improve fish welfare and product quality. The company’s flagship machine, Poseidon, automates the ancient ike jime method—a humane fish slaughter technique that instantly kills fish by inserting a spike into the brain, minimizing suffering and preserving meat quality.
Conventional commercial fishing methods often involve fish suffocating on vessel decks, causing stress hormone release that deteriorates meat quality and reduces shelf life. “Fish can be left gasping for minutes to an hour, which increases lactic acid and acidity in the meat,” explains CEO and cofounder Saif Khawaja.
Poseidon uses machine vision technology to identify fish species onboard fishing vessels and immediately executes the ike jime technique with robotic precision. The process rapidly induces brain death, halting stress hormone production and preventing acidic buildup. Subsequently, the fish blood is drained through osmosis, further preserving freshness.
“This humane process can triple the shelf life of fish and significantly enhance flavor retention,” Khawaja says. “Our approach is not just ethical; it also delivers measurable economic benefits for fishermen and retailers.”
Shinkei offers Poseidon systems free to commercial fishing operations. Fishermen then sell their catch back to Shinkei at a premium price. Shinkei markets this catch under its Seremoni brand, launched in 2024 to bring high-quality, ethically harvested fish to a broader consumer base.
“We learned that directly working with fishermen to capture the value uplift was more effective than renting or selling machines outright,” Khawaja explains. “Our model lets fishermen earn more from their catch without costly changes to their vessels or operations.”
Khawaja, who has personal experience as a hobbyist and commercial fisherman, acknowledges the challenges fishermen face: “Fishing is unpredictable and dangerous. Asking them to change their handling methods without incentives isn’t realistic. Shinkei aligns economic incentives with humane practices, encouraging sustainable, long-term thinking.”
Currently operating along the US West Coast, Shinkei is preparing to enter new regions including Cape Cod by July, with plans to expand into the Gulf of Mexico by year-end. This geographic expansion will extend the reach of Poseidon technology and the Seremoni brand’s premium fish offerings.
The Seremoni line initially launched with Black Cod and Black Sea Bass, both of which have already gained traction in celebrity chef restaurants. The recent funding will support adding new species such as red snapper and salmon to the product portfolio.
“We’re aggressively hiring to build out our engineering team and scale operations,” says Khawaja. “The capital will help us grow our workforce and accelerate product development.”
At the core of Shinkei’s solution is a blend of cutting-edge robotics and supply chain transparency. Poseidon not only automates humane slaughter but also integrates cold chain monitoring and tracking to ensure quality from ocean to table.
The continuous feedback on fish species and condition allows fishermen to optimize catch handling in real time, further reducing waste and maximizing product value.
Shinkei’s approach addresses both ethical concerns and market demand for sustainably sourced seafood. With consumers increasingly seeking transparency and responsibility in their food choices, the company’s innovations are well-positioned to shape the future of commercial fishing.
