Frozen-at-sea vs land-frozen: what seafood buyers should know
"Frozen-at-sea" and "fresh" are often assumed to be opposites, with fresh always better. For wild seafood caught far offshore, the opposite is frequently true. Understanding how product is frozen — and when — tells you more about quality than the words "fresh" or "frozen" alone.
What frozen-at-sea (FAS) means
FAS product is processed and frozen on the vessel, often within minutes of the haul. For species harvested days from port — cold-water shrimp, Greenland halibut, redfish, sea scallops — this captures the fish at peak freshness, before any degradation begins. The result is firm texture, clean flavour and, for shrimp and scallops, no need for additives or added water.
What land-frozen (plant-frozen) means
Land-frozen product is landed fresh and frozen at a shore plant. For inshore species landed quickly, this allows flexible processing — specific fillet cuts, blocks, value-added formats — that is hard to do at sea. It is the right choice when the fishing ground is close to the plant and the format requires shore equipment.
Quality, cost and use
| Factor | Frozen-at-sea | Land-frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Time to freeze | Minutes from haul | Hours to a day |
| Best for | Offshore species, long trips | Inshore species, complex formats |
| Additives | Typically none needed | Varies by processor |
| Format flexibility | H&G, whole, shell-on | Fillets, blocks, value-added |
How Ocean Choice uses both
We freeze at sea on our offshore vessels for shrimp, redfish, Greenland halibut and scallops, and we run land-based lines at our four Newfoundland plants for species and formats better suited to shore processing. The point is not that one is universally better — it is matching the method to the species, the trip and the format your market needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is frozen-at-sea better than fresh?
For species harvested far offshore, FAS often beats 'fresh' that has spent days in transit, because the fish is frozen within minutes of the haul at peak quality.
Do frozen-at-sea scallops and shrimp contain additives?
Our FAS scallops and shrimp are 100% natural with no additives or added water — the rapid freeze removes the need for them.
Which Ocean Choice products are frozen-at-sea?
Cold-water shrimp, redfish, Greenland halibut and sea scallops are frozen at sea; other species are plant-frozen where that suits the format better.
Further reading
Need FAS or plant-frozen product?
Tell us the species and format — we will confirm how it is frozen and quote accordingly.