The demand for fresh, high-quality seafood is on the rise, and more consumers are turning to online platforms to satisfy their cravings. In 2022, 7.4% of all fish and seafood sales occurred online, which is expected to grow to 9.6% by 2025. This rapid shift toward digital seafood sales presents a lucrative opportunity for businesses looking to enter the market.
Whether you’re a seasoned fisherman, a seafood distributor, or an entrepreneur breaking into the industry, selling seafood online comes with its own set of challenges, such as building an engaging website, choosing the best e-commerce platform to sell fish, maintaining freshness, managing logistics, and standing out in a competitive market.
This guide will walk you through the steps to selling seafood successfully online, from sourcing and packaging to setting up an online store and attracting customers.
1. Research market trends for buying seafood online
Before launching an online seafood business, it’s important to analyze seafood market trends and consumer preferences within the regions you're targeting. The demand for fresh, high-quality seafood is growing, but customers are also increasingly concerned about sustainability, ethical sourcing, and freshness.
First, identify your target audience. Are they home cooks, restaurants, or health-conscious consumers? Each food buyer persona has unique needs and preferences.
Next, analyze competitors to spot gaps in the market. Look for areas they may overlook or under-serve.
Your market research might identify opportunities and challenges such as:
Opportunities in the seafood industry
- Rising demand for online seafood purchases: More consumers are shopping for seafood online due to convenience and access to specialty products.
- Subscription seafood boxes: Seafood meal kits and seafood subscription services are becoming popular.
- Sustainable seafood preferences: Consumers are looking for eco-friendly and responsibly sourced seafood.
Challenges in the seafood industry
- Perishability: Seafood requires proper cold storage and shipping.
- Regulatory compliance: Strict food safety regulations apply.
- Customer trust: Buyers are cautious about freshness and quality of seafood.
2. Research legal and regulatory requirements
Selling seafood online requires compliance with local and international food safety regulations. These rules help ensure that seafood products are safe for consumption.
Research local, state, and federal laws relevant to where you're selling seafood from and to ensure compliance. Below, we share some high-level considerations to help you navigate the process:
Seafood licensing and permits
- If selling in the U.S.: You must comply with the FDA’s HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) regulations. This includes having a written food safety plan, maintaining detailed records, and ensuring your facility meets sanitation standards. State-level permits may also apply, depending on your location and how you source, process, or distribute seafood.
- If selling in Canada: Businesses must follow CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) requirements, including registration with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) if shipping across provinces or exporting internationally. These rules cover licensing, preventive controls, traceability, and labeling.
Seafood labeling and packaging requirements
- Clearly list the species name, country of origin, and production method (wild-caught or farm-raised).
- Include storage instructions and expiration dates.
- Use sustainable and food-safe packaging materials.
3. Source high-quality seafood products
To run a successful seafood business, you need reliable suppliers and an efficient inventory system to maintain quality and prevent waste.
Here's how to source high-quality seafood:
- Certifications: Look for sustainability certifications like MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) or ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council). These appeal to eco-conscious buyers and can boost your brand's credibility.
- Product Range: Diversify your offerings. Consider fresh, frozen, smoked, or value-added seafood products. This will attract a wider range of seafood lovers and keep your business competitive.
- Partnerships: Build strong relationships with wholesale customers and suppliers. This ensures a steady supply chain, keeping your seafood business resilient.
Managing seafood inventory
- Invest in commercial-grade refrigeration and freezing equipment to protect product quality.
- Use inventory management software for seafood like Local Line to monitor stock levels in real-time. With Local Line, you can sell meat and seafood products by weight, which is essential in the seafood industry where sizes can vary. You can also add product variants, offering different packaging options, to meet diverse customer preferences. This flexibility helps in building customer loyalty and ensuring customer satisfaction.
- Seafood is often sold by weight, so catch-weight pricing—charging based on the actual weight of each item—can offer more flexibility and accuracy.
- Adjust purchasing based on customer demand and sales trends to reduce waste and improve margins.
Read our guide to mastering inventory management with Local Line
4. Set up an online seafood website and e-commerce store
A professional, user-friendly website is essential for selling seafood online. Choosing the right e-commerce platform can streamline everything from product listings to payments and shipping.
Best e-commerce platform to sell fish and seafood
Local Line is the best platform to sell fish and seafood online. It's purpose-built for food businesses, making it a better fit than general platforms like Shopify, Wix, or SquareSpace.
It offers features tailored to seafood sellers, including:
Unlike custom-built sites, Local Line requires no coding or developer support–just straightforward tools for selling fresh and frozen products online.
Learn more about seafood e-commerce with Local Line.
Must-have seafood website features
- High-quality product photos and detailed food product descriptions that highlight seafood freshness, cut, origin, and size.
- Mobile-friendly design for seamless browsing and buying on smartphones.
- Secure payment processing to accept credit cards, e-transfers, or local pickup options.
Essential website pages for your seafood site
Your site should be easy to navigate and clearly present what you offer. Include these key pages:
- Home: Introduce your business and what sets you apart.
- About Us: Share your story, values, and sourcing practices.
- Products: List all seafood items with clear images and pricing.
- FAQs: Address common questions about freshness, shipping, and returns.
- Contact: Provide email, phone, and social media links so customers can reach you easily.
5. Build a marketing plan for your online seafood business
Attracting and retaining customers requires a strong online presence and effective marketing strategies. Below, we highlight some of the most important parts of any seafood business marketing plan.
Building a seafood brand
- Develop a unique brand identity with a memorable logo and values.
- Highlight your commitment to quality, sustainability, and freshness.
SEO strategies for seafood businesses
- Optimize product pages with relevant keywords (e.g., "fresh Alaskan salmon delivery").
- Publish blog content about seafood recipes, sustainability, and health benefits.
- Implement local SEO to target customers in specific regions.
- Build backlinks to your site - Reach out to food blogs, local directories, and industry websites to link back to your site. This will improve your website’s authority and visibility on search engines.
👉 Download our FREE SEO checklist for food businesses
Social media and influencer marketing
- Use Instagram and TikTok to showcase seafood preparation and customer testimonials. Check out these Instagram post ideas to get started.
- Partner with food bloggers and chefs to promote your products.
👉 Download our FREE social media templates for food businesses
Running paid ads and promotions
👉 Learn how to easily set up coupon codes with Local Line
6. Package and deliver seafood securely
Delivering seafood requires careful handling to maintain freshness and build customer trust. Packaging and logistics must work together to protect your product from the moment it leaves your facility to when it arrives at the customer’s door.
Best practices for seafood packaging
- Use insulated boxes with gel packs or dry ice to keep products at safe temperatures.
- Vacuum-seal seafood to prevent leaks, reduce air exposure, and lock in freshness.
- Ensure all packaging meets food-grade safety standards and is suitable for perishable goods.
Choose reliable shipping partners
- Partner with FedEx, UPS, or local cold-chain couriers for next-day or two-day delivery.
- Provide real-time tracking and delivery notifications to keep customers informed and confident in their order.
7. Build trust and offer excellent customer service
Trust is essential when selling perishable products like seafood. Responsive support and clear communication help build loyalty, boost customer retention, and encourage repeat business.
Handle inquiries and complaints professionally
- Respond quickly to questions or concerns through email, live chat, or phone.
- Provide clear refund and return policies to address issues like delayed deliveries or product quality concerns.
Encourage and showcase customer reviews
- Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews after purchase.
- Highlight testimonials on your website and social media to build social proof and increase buyer confidence.
Read more about 8 ways to provide great customer service
8. Scale your online seafood business
Once your online seafood store is running smoothly, explore opportunities to grow your revenue and reach new markets. Scaling strategically can help you increase profits while building long-term stability.
Expand your product offerings
- Add seafood meal kits, ready-to-cook items, sauces, or curated seafood bundles to boost average order value.
- Introduce premium products to support upselling and cross-selling, such as sushi-grade fish or lesser-known, high-margin seafood that appeals to niche buyers.
Partner with restaurants and wholesale buyers
Explore international shipping
- Research customs and export regulations in your target countries to ensure compliance.
- Partner with reliable global cold chain logistics providers to maintain product quality and speed up delivery.
Ready to grow? Local Line makes selling seafood online simple
Now that you know what it takes to succeed, Local Line gives you the tools to build and scale your seafood business online. Designed specifically for food sellers, it simplifies everything from product listings to payments, shipping, and customer communication.
- Custom storefront: Launch a professional, user-friendly store in under 30 minutes to showcase your full seafood lineup.
- Flexible inventory tracking and price lists: Create unique price lists for retail and wholesale customers, with support for catch-weight and variable product sizes.
- Built-in subscription support: Set up recurring orders and payments to offer seafood boxes or ongoing delivery programs.
- CRM: Keep all your customers in one place. Quickly see which customers are assigned to which price lists, their status, and when they've last ordered through Local Line
- Built-in e-commerce capabilities: Accept multiple payment methods and give your customers a smooth buying experience every time.
Local Line is everything you need to sell seafood online–efficiently, professionally, and profitably. Start building your store today and bring your seafood business to more customers, faster.
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