How Predictive AI Gives Fishing Companies A Competitive Edge

Icelandic company GreenFish is redefining the future of commercial tuna fishing through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) designed tools for the sector. With its developed predictive fishing technology, it provides companies with AI-powered forecasting models that help fleets operate more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably in an ocean environment that is changing faster than ever before.

The patent-pending AI model is capable of predicting the location, quantity, size, and bycatch risk of tuna and other fish species up to eight days in advance. Forecasts are updated every six hours, allowing fleets to respond quickly to shifting ocean conditions such as temperature changes, currents, and biomass movement. With historical accuracy rates ranging from 75 percent to 92 percent, the platform gives fishing companies a level of insight that was previously impossible.

GreenFish has a tailor-made approach. “Every AI model is built exclusively for one client and remains fully confidential and privately owned. Rather than offering a generic solution, GreenFish creates a customized predictive system trained specifically on a company’s own operational data, target species, and fishing zones,” said Sveinn Sigurður Jóhannesson, CEO of GreenFish, which he founded in 2023.

Benefits Of AI Learning

Boat owners will have a major competitive benefit with Greenfish’s program, as it continuously learns from every fishing trip, the system improves over time, adapting to environmental changes and evolving fishing patterns. Jóhannesson said: “We compare the process to building a brain that becomes smarter with experience.” Companies that begin training their models earlier gain an increasingly powerful edge because AI learning cannot be rushed or instantly replicated.

The benefits of this technology extend far beyond simply locating fish and maximizing target catch, added Jóhannesson. The model offers quality forecasting that helps vessels to prioritize good quality tuna, improve revenue per ton, and maximize quota utilization. Simultaneously, targeting mature fish while avoiding younger specimens contributes to long-term sustainability and healthier fish stocks.

The AI-powered fishing model also predicts zones where unwanted or protected species are most likely to appear before vessels enter a fishing area. This allows captains to adjust routes proactively rather than reacting after the fact, when options become limited and risks, such as fines, quota penalties, and license restrictions, occur.

The CEO explained that in today’s seafood market, where retailers and consumers demand responsible sourcing, the model helps boat owners to better meet increasingly strict environmental and regulatory standards, which provides both operational and reputational value.

The operational advantages are equally significant. By reducing search time, fleets lower their fuel consumption, operational costs, and CO₂ emissions. However, GreenFish presents its model not only as a cost-saving measure, but as a means for companies to use the most advanced available tools to fish responsibly.

The development process itself is collaborative. Building a customized model takes up to three months after receiving the required data. In a close process with the boat owner, validation testing is conducted to ensure the system performs effectively under real-world conditions before deployment.