It is undeniable that consumers are seeking healthier, protein-dense foods, which is leading them to purchase more seafood. With trending diets, including Keto’s low carb, high fat fare, seafood is a popular choice for your consumers to get their protein intake. Seafood has many nutritional benefits to offer consumers. It’s high in heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins. It is also low in saturated fat and an ideal source of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. However, seafood is considered an easily perishable commodity, due to its ease of arriving bruised, thawed or spoiled. To keep your customers and consumers happy, you have a high concern for shipping seafood safely. How can you make sure you are doing all you can to get your seafood to where it needs to go, claim-free?

Your Part: The Packaging

Part 1 in shipping seafood safely is in the packaging. Seafood is often fresh or frozen and needs to stay at certain temperatures to keep it from spoiling. It is important to know the time to ship the products and package them to keep the required temperature. Having the correct packaging can provide enough protection and refrigeration to maintain the correct temperature environment.

Styrofoam coolers, placed inside a corrugated cardboard box are best for keeping temperatures maintained. Including insulated liners can help catch any water runoff from melting ice packs before the water can damage the outer packaging. Ice, dry ice, or gel packs are often your best options for keeping the product cool. However, keep in mind, there are certain regulations in place for shipping with dry ice. Also, if you decide to go with dry ice, do not place in an airtight container. Dry ice will release carbon dioxide, causing pressure to build up and your package to explode. While coolants help keep your product cold when shipping, be careful of the proximity as they can also damage your product if they come into contact.

Our Part: Arranging Transport

It’s important that the carrier hauling your seafood is knowledgeable in the temperature requirements and handling of your product. With our huge network of carriers and relationships, we can help you select a carrier with experience, transporting your seafood safely and timely.

Sometimes with seafood, a full truckload is not always needed. Refrigerated LTL (less-than-truckload), also known as reefer LTL, is an option available to you through Trinity Logistics. Refrigerated LTL is great for shipping smaller quantities of refrigerated products, but can often be harder to arrange, and generally more expensive alone. Thankfully, when partnering with Trinity Logistics and our carrier relationships, you can get your best rate shipping with refrigerated LTL.

Another reason to choose your carriers wisely when shipping seafood is that not all insurance covers it. Sometimes it can be excluded. It can be a lot of work to find a qualified carrier at a good rate, and then find out their insurance doesn’t cover your product. Even worse, finding out after the fact when there is a claim. Trinity can help. We make sure your seafood is covered by using our relationship carriers and contacting their insurance to ensure it is covered. And if it’s not? We cover it by purchasing additional insurance for it. You can feel relieved knowing that no matter what happens, your product is covered.

If you’re looking for an experienced partner to help you ship your seafood product, consider Trinity Logistics. We would love to help you get your fish to your customer’s dinner plates. Connect with us today.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith