Actual Status of Fish Sorting: A Case Study of Sorting Line at Matsuura Local Wholesale Market

Abstract

This study explored the practical condition of manual fish sorting line at Matsuura local wholesale market, investigating the factors that are to be watched closely the progression toward advanced mechanization. Focusing on manual fish sorting line a part of large fish sorting machines used in purse-seine fisheries, this study highlighted a critical issue in the manual sorting section of the sorting line. Specifically, sorting machine operations were halted when the flow of fishes per second at a specific workstation surpassed 1.5 times the laborer’s sorting capacity. Addressing this challenge necessitates optimizing fish numbers on the manual sorting line to align with laborers’ sorting capabilities. Potential solutions include introducing splitters for efficient sorting or relocating laborers from workstations with lower fish flow. This proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues is vital not only for operational optimization but also for the development of innovative technologies, such image recognition–based fish sorting. It is expected that the analysis of such labor-intensive manual work in fishing will be utilized for more advanced mechanization and promote technological development.