How to ship lobsters and other live seafood?

16 years ago

Does anyone here have good information (from personal experience would be nice) on how to ship live lobsters, crabs, clams, mussels and the like? Local fish markets will do that, but not economically. I would like to ship these things to friends when I have a large catch or when prices are low here.

I think it involves using dry ice and overnight shipping. I need specifics on how to pack everything. Dry ice gives off carbon dioxide as it evaporates. How are the live creatures prevented from suffocating?

Jim

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

User
16 years ago
The lobsters I recently had shipped from Maine (mainelobsterdirect) came packed in a Styrofoam cooler, with seaweed and ice packs, all packed inside a cardboard box. The ice packs were only partially melted the next afternoon when the lobsters were delivered. They came with a six-pack bottle divider and each lobster had it's own slot.

I think dry ice would kill and freeze live seafood packed with it. The only things I've ever received with dry ice are things that are already frozen. When I've shipped with dry ice, from work, the items were also already frozen.

I would wonder if you can do it much cheaper, once you buy the supplies and pay for overnight shipping. The seafood places have the added benefit of volume.
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
16 years ago
No Dry ice.

Depending on where you live, if you drive around the neighborhood, you may find Styro Foam boxes with jell packs in them that people throw away. Those are boxes that medicine are shipped. They are perfect for shipping lobsters and crabs. Keep the lobsters cold, but above freezing, and moist (no water). They can stay alive for four to five days.

I don't know about shipping other sea food alive.

dcarch
Related Discussions
So we had lobster for dinner the other night
Q
Comments (7)
Kimmid, We are not huge seafood eaters but we do have shrimp a couple times a year. My son's girlfriend's people go crabbing for personal use so sometimes they send me crab shells. Depending on time of year that I receive these items, I save them in my freezer until tomato planting time. I put both crab and shrimp shells at the bottoms of my tomato plant holes. So far plants look great but won't swear it's because of this little odd habit I do every season. I read somewhere that crab shells, maybe shrimp and possibly lobster too, have chitin and supposedly this stuff is supposed to help against grubs and nematodes. Regardless, I like to think back to my elementary school days when they taught us how the Native Americans would put a fish in each planting hole. Ah, just a little funny thought that crosses my mind..... And yes, I plant them deep so no critters, including my dogs will dig them up. Michelle
...See More
How to get rid of lobster claw ginger once it's growing.
Q
Comments (10)
Not to get too technical, but I'd guess by roots, your're actually talking about them regrowing from the rhizomes, and in general I doubt just the "real" roots which come out of those below ground rhizomes, can regrow them, if the rhizomes are removed. Being that those rhizomes should be relatively large and easy to spot and remove by hand you cuold perhaps get 100 percent of them removed, though the much smaller roots could easily break off and might regenerate, though I doubt it. Short of soaking the area constantly in some Roundup or other very strong weedkiller to constantly kill any regrowth til the roots and rhizomes can no longer fight back, they could be just dug up and removed, though obviously it could take considerable elbow greese to do the task. Using weed killer constantly of course could lead to a situation, where nothing else would grow in that area for a long long time and I doubt you want that!!
...See More
Lobster Question
Q
Comments (7)
Almost a year ago, I got a fantastic deal on cooked Maine lobsters. I bought a bunch, we ate some, and I took the meat out of others and froze it, thinking to make a bisque or something later. Well, I made the bisque, but somehow missed an entire zip lock bag of the meat and found it just before Christmas. I was making a duck and seafood gumbo for an after-Christmas party, so I said, "what the heck", figuring that even if it wasn't at it's peak, the rich, thick sauce would make up for it. You wouldn't believe the raves I got on that gumbo, and the lobster chunks were just wonderful. So freeze, freeze, freeze!
...See More
Looking for something Lobster to go with Beef Tenderloin
Q
Comments (14)
This always works for a celebration dinner. ROASTED SURF 'N' TURF 2 lobster tails 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. seafood seasoning 1 (3 lb.) whole beef tenderloin 1 Tbs. melted butter or margarine 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice 6 slices bacon 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (scallions) 1 clove garlic, finely minced 1/2 lb. Mushrooms, thinly sliced 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (optional) or 1 tsp. chopped fresh or 1/4 tsp. dried tarragon (optional) Place lobster tails, salt and seafood seasoning in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from water and drain. Let cool until able to be handled. Carefully remove lobster tails from shells, keeping meat in one piece. Cut each piece of lobster meat in half lengthwise and set aside. Cut a horizontal pocket through the center of meat to within 1/2 inch of opposite side of tenderloin, slicing the entire length of tenderloin. Carefully stuff lobster pieces, end to end, inside tenderloin. Combine the 1 Tbs. melted butter and lemon juice; Drizzle on lobster. Fold over tenderloin to resemble original shape and tie with butcher's twine. Set aside. Cook bacon in a skillet until slightly crisp; drain, reserving drippings. Crumble bacon; set aside. Put beef in shallow pan and brush entire surface of meat with bacon drippings. Insert meat thermometer in center of roast so the point is right below the lobster, making sure it doesn't go all the way through and touch the pan. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 25 minutes or until thermometer registers 130 degrees (rare). While roast is cooking, saute shallots, green onions, garlic and mushrooms in 1/2 cup butter. Add wine and Worcestershire sauce or tarragon (but not both). Simmer until roast is ready. To serve, remove twine and sprinkle top of meat with crumbled bacon. Serve sauce with sliced tenderloin. Note: The roast can be stuffed earlier in the day and refrigerated (uncooked). Add a few minutes more cooking time if made ahead. The sauce can also be made ahead and reheated.
...See More
hawk307
16 years ago
Dcarch: Jim:

Use the Stryofoam. Put ice packs in, wrapped in paper.
Don't use Dry Ice, it gives off Carbon Dioxide.

Also if you have seaweed available put some of that on top,
of the ice packs for moisture and
helps to keep the Lobsters from banging around.

Duct Tape the top and punch some small holes,in the sides for air , above the half way mark.

Put this in a cardboard box.

Mark the box " Live Lobsters "

Find the quickest Shipper

When will I get them ??? LOL LOL LOL
LOU
annie1992
16 years ago
beats the heck out of me, but I can tell you that we got a shipment of frozen beef from Omaha Steaks at Christmas (yeah, I know, I raise grassfed beef and somone gives elery a gift certificate to Omaha Steaks, LOL). They came packed in really thick styrofoam coolers with ice packs and the stuff got to me still frozen, so they stay pretty cold. Those coolers were really substantial, not like the styrofoam ones I see at the hardware store, so maybe you know someone who gets things from Omaha Steaks?

Annie
metaxa
16 years ago
How well do you know your vet?

Mrs.M is a tech in a vet clinic and they get and/or ship bloodwork, meds, tissue slides, etc all the time. They have a freezer full of freezer packs of all sizes and shapes plus a stockpile of "made for shipping" styro coolers, again of all sizes.

They use a specialty courier service but I think all the ones generally available offer Next Day service...for a price.

I've sent live Dungeness and oysters/clams from Vancouver Island to Calgary but I put them on a direct flight and they are picked up at the airport the same day.

That is a trip of 1,000 kilometres, more or less. 600 miles, more or less.
jimster
Original Author
16 years ago
"When will I get them ??? LOL LOL LOL "

It was supposed to be a surprise, Lou!!! Who let the cat out of the bag????

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I think I can do this. I will get supplies together and have everything ready to go when the time is right.

Most of the surplus catches an garden crops go to neighbors. But sometimes I would like to ship them to friends or family.

Jim
hawk307
16 years ago
Hi Jim:
I realize I repeated some things , that were already said.

My Daughter makes and sells Crabcakes and sometimes ships them frozen, uncooked.
She also buys live seafood and they are shipped as I described.

She asked about the Seaweed . The market told her it is for
cushioning plus moisture.

Thought I'd pass it on to everyone.
LOU

PS: I'll pay the Shipping !!!
***************************************

Didn't hear anything from you about the Hurricane in your neck of the Ocean ?
Only about the wrong State,I posted.

Stay in touch if you can.
Hope everything will fare well !!!

If you need any help I'll drive up.
Lou
jimster
Original Author
16 years ago
All the suggestions make sense. However, isn't there a conflict between keeping the package cold and having air holes? Won't a non-airtight container warm up fairly fast?

Jim
hawk307
16 years ago
Jim:
I'm only telling you the way they ship to my Daughter.

The couple holes ( icepick size ) wouldn't matter.

Also mark the package( up ^) along with the other markings,
I described.
There is a one day shipping. Costs more.

You could experiment and send me some, ( 3 day ) I'll pay the shipping.

***********************
You didn't say anything about the storm.
Did it affect the Claming and fishing ???

LOU
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
16 years ago
When the lobster is cooled to near freezing, it is almost hibernating. In this state, it uses very little oxygen.

dcarch
jimster
Original Author
16 years ago
"You didn't say anything about the storm.
Did it affect the Claming and fishing ???"

The hurricane, which was supposed to be a near direct hit here according to the news media, was a non-event. I slept through it two feet away from an open window. The surf was pretty impressive though. Lots of people were enjoying a beautiful day at the beach on Saturday following the "storm".

Jim
hawk307
16 years ago
Jim:

" I slept through it two feet from an open window "

Ti's nice to hear this, after the fact.
Wish I had known before the fact.

You're gonna get yours !!!
LOU

How to ship lobsters and other live seafood?

Comments (12)

User

dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m

Related Discussions

hawk307

annie1992

metaxa

jimster
Original Author

hawk307

jimster
Original Author

hawk307

dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m

jimster
Original Author

hawk307

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

How to ship lobsters and other live seafood?

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

jimsterOriginal Author

jimsterOriginal Author

jimsterOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jimster
Original Author

jimster
Original Author

jimster
Original Author