Friday, 26 August 2016

The Proper Way To Have Live Lobster Shipped

By John Meyer


Seafood is a delicacy that a large number of people enjoy. However, if you live inland or far from a marine water body, you might end up paying a lot of money for these meals. To reduce these costs and guarantee the quality of the meals you are eating, you should consider getting live lobster shipped. This way, you get fresh produce, which you can use to make your various seafood related meals.

When lobsters are alive, they tend to spend a lot of their time in water, and therefore, when shipping them, they also have to stay moist. This can easily be done by regulating the temperature in the shipping vessel, and covering them in wet seaweed. Using freshwater will cause their bodies to absorb this water, and they will eventually burst. You can use some seawater, but you will need to aerate the container regularly, to ensure the water has enough oxygen.

Although a lot of items are transported in airtight containers, when transporting live animals, you need to leave some breathing space. This will mean using containers with spaces to allow the circulation of air. The shipping container itself should also be adequately aerated. This will prevent a build-up of carbon dioxide, which could kill the lobsters.

While shipping these animals, a lot of bumping and moving could lead to the breakage of the shells. Therefore, it is advisable not to stuff too many in one container. Seaweed is also sometimes used to act as cushioning, and also to prevent these crustaceans from dying up. Before packing the lobsters, the person in charge should ensure that they are all healthy and have intact shells.

The temperatures on most of the shipping vessels are usually quite low, especially if they are carrying fresh produce. Because most lobsters dwell in cold water, they should be stored at about forty degrees Fahrenheit, to ensure they are cool enough but not frozen. This might cause them to seem inactive when they arrive, but also reduces their oxygen and energy consumption.

There are many shipping companies available, but only settle for ones that you can trust. This decision can be made after making some inquiries about their credibility, punctuality, and general efficiency. Quick deliveries and good shipping practices will give a company a good reputation. Although you do not get warranties for transporting live animals, some companies will take responsibility for the delivery of dead or damaged crustaceans.

You might be tempted to choose a cheap service to lower your expenditure or even to choose the most expensive one you find with the assumption that they will offer the best services. The charges may vary from one company to another, and therefore, you should compare the services being provided to the price before settling on any one shipping service. Collecting and inspecting the cargo in person, at the docks, might also lower your costs.

Even if you might want to believe that your produce is in good shape on arrival you need to inspect it, preferably with a company representative present. The containers used for packing should be sealed and the animals alive. You can check this by looking for signs of movement in the eyes and limbs. The shells should also be intact, and with no signs of discoloration.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment