Shipping Fish and Seafood with Chilled Shipping
Chilled shipping of fish and seafood
Fresh fish is exceptionally sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Under poor cooling conditions, bacteria quickly develop that affect freshness and cause food safety risks. Proper packaging is essential for the fish processing industry.
Temperature requirements
- Fresh fish: 0 – 2 °C (on melting ice)
- Smoked fish: 2 – 4 °C
- Frozen fish: -18 °C or lower
- Seafood (fresh): 0 – 2 °C
The right packaging
For fish shipping we recommend:
- EPS boxes — perfect combination of insulation and moisture resistance
- Ice or gel packs — for fresh fish: crushed ice directly on the fish
- Absorption mats — crucial for absorbing meltwater and leaking fish juices
- Leak-proof inner bag — prevents contamination of the outside
- Foodgrade film around the fish
For commercial fish shippers
Online fishmongers, restaurants distributing fresh fish, and fish wholesalers often work with Cooled Solutions because of:
- Fixed price agreements for volumes
- Fast delivery from stock
- Custom packaging for specific fish species
- Combinations on pallets (mix of cooling boxes + loose parts)
Important points to note
- Always vacuum pack or use leak-proof packaging before placing fish in EPS box
- Sufficient ice/gel packs: at least 50% of the fish weight
- ALWAYS use an absorption mat — otherwise you will receive damaged shipments
- Clearly label 'Fish - perishable' or 'Perishable'
- Preferably schedule shipping Tuesday through Thursday
Cooled Solutions has been supplying customers in the fish processing industry for many years. For advice on your specific situation: contact our internal sales department.
