The seafood industry doesn’t have a technology problem.
It has a conversation problem.
After attending the Sea Farmers event this year, that’s the conclusion I came to.
We talk about exports. We talk about yields. We talk about quality. But we don’t talk deeply enough about the systems underneath those outcomes — and how technology, when applied properly, can fundamentally change how seafood businesses operate.
That’s why being at Sea Farmers mattered to me.
Not just for exposure. Not just to represent Tracktile. But to advocate for something I believe the industry needs right now: intentional modernization.
My Experience Being There
We have worked hard to get Tracktile in front of seafood manufacturers over the past few years. But there is a difference between digital presence and physical presence.
It was important for Greg and me to go where producers are and have real conversations face to face.
As artificial intelligence continues to take hold across industries, I believe in-person interaction becomes more important, not less. Technology scales operations. Trust scales relationships.
And in seafood, with how its shaped over the years, interactions matter most.
If we want this industry to evolve, we have to be willing to show up and talk honestly about what needs to improve.
The Pressure Is Structural
In nearly every discussion, two themes consistently surfaced:
- Export challenges
- Lower yields and quality concerns
These are not temporary fluctuations. They are structural pressures.
Export markets are becoming more complex. Quality expectations are rising. Margins are tighter. Even small shifts in yield can have significant financial consequences.
Many operators are navigating these pressures with systems that were never designed for this level of complexity.
Spreadsheets. Paper logs. Legacy software that is expensive and difficult to use.
When systems do not evolve alongside the industry, friction increases.
If we are serious about strengthening export performance and protecting margins, we have to strengthen the operational backbone that supports them.
A Strong Ecosystem That Needs Alignment
One of the most encouraging things I saw at Sea Farmers was the strength of the broader ecosystem.
There are food safety platforms. Compliance experts. Hardware providers. Export advisors. Technology partners.
The capability exists.
But too often these systems operate independently rather than cohesively.
If we want to solve larger industry challenges such as traceability, audit readiness, yield optimization, and export compliance, we need more alignment across the ecosystem.
No single platform will transform the seafood industry alone.
But collaboration across partners can create a more connected and resilient operating environment.
The Real Opportunity Is Accessible Software
Let us address a reality.
Traditional manufacturing software in the seafood sector has often been:
- Expensive
- Complex
- Difficult to implement
- Disconnected from real production workflows
That has slowed adoption across the industry.
When software feels heavy and burdensome, operators hesitate.
But the answer is not to avoid modernization. The answer is to build better tools.
The opportunity in seafood manufacturing is not just innovation. It is accessible innovation.
We need software that is:
- Cost effective
- Practical for plant teams
- Designed around real production processes
- Capable of scaling with growth
Software should improve visibility, strengthen traceability, automate compliance documentation, and provide real-time insights without overwhelming teams.
Modern systems should remove friction, not create it.
AI Should Be Practical, Not Performative
Artificial intelligence came up in multiple conversations, often cautiously.
That caution makes sense.
AI should not be a buzzword. It should be a tool.
The question is not whether AI will impact seafood manufacturing. It already is.
The real question is how we apply it responsibly and intentionally.
Can it improve yield forecasting?
Can it identify quality trends earlier?
Can it automate compliance documentation?
Can it reduce administrative burden so operators can focus on production?
Used properly, AI does not replace experience. It amplifies it.
And the seafood industry deserves tools that enhance operational expertise rather than complicate it.
My Takeaway for Seafood Producers
If I could leave one message from the Sea Farmers event, it would be this:
We need deeper conversations about where this industry is heading and how we build systems strong enough to support that future.
Not technology for its own sake.
But technology that strengthens margins.
Technology that protects export relationships.
Technology that improves visibility and accountability.
The seafood producers who thrive over the next decade will not just have strong product. They will have strong systems.
At Tracktile, that is what we are advocating for. Practical, scalable, cost-effective manufacturing software built around the real challenges seafood operators face every day.
Sea Farmers reinforced something important for me.
The industry is ready for stronger systems.
Now it is time to build them together.
