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FAQs
Can I customize my box?
We are essentially a farmers market for artisanal aquaculture. In that sense, our Seatopia curated boxes are like a CSA box. We offer our curated boxes as a way to highlight what is seasonally available and introduce our members to new seafood and farm partners they might be interested in. So, they cannot be customized.
But we do offer custom boxes! Members can order a custom box through the a la cart section of our website. Subscription members can mix and match items in their portal and take advantage of member-only items and offers.
Do I have to subscribe?
No! But becoming a subscriber is the best way to support aquaculture farmers raising fish the right way.
Your subscription helps us with planning harvest timelines and scheduling ocean freight, helping us move the industry away from unsustainable practices of flying fresh fish around the world. Subscribers also have early access to preferred pricing, exclusive add-ons and limited time offers.
You will never be locked in to a subscription - you may change the order, the frequency or cancel anytime.
Do you offer discounts?
As a general rule, we do not offer discounts, aside from a small thank you for first time customers. We offer the same incentive if you find us through one of our affiliate friends or supporters. Both are only available to first time customers.
Rather than ask our members to search the internet for discounts and coupons, we always offer the lowest prices we can.
The best way to save is by becoming a monthly subscriber. Our subscription members receive a small price incentive for helping us to reliably and predictably support artisan, regenerative aquaculture.
What about antibiotics?
At Seatopia, we have a strict zero-tolerance policy for the use of preventative antibiotics in our feed, and our partner farms do not use preventative antibiotics.
In extreme cases where a veterinarian prescribes antibiotics for an individual animal's treatment, that animal is quarantined for a sufficient period, typically at least 30 days, to ensure no detectable levels of antibiotics remain before it can be reintegrated or harvested.
However, these instances where antibiotics are prescribed are rare, and typically only realistically possible in open-ocean aquaculture.
Many of our land-based (RAS) farms use zero antibiotics under any circumstances. More information about these and our other farms can be found on individual farm pages.
We are always able to answer any additional questions via email at nemo@seatopia.fish
What is a portion?
Many in our community are cooking for households or meal planning around specific protein requirements. For that reason, we sell our curated boxes in portions, not pieces.
A portion is typically 5.5-8oz for filets. For other items, like scallops or smoked trout, a portion can be considered 3-4oz, which is the recommended portion size per the professional chefs and nutritionists that we work with.
So, a 12 serving box will contain 4.5-5.5lbs of raw seafood.
What is considered sashimi-grade? Is all of your fish sashimi-grade?
Yes, all of our seafood is sushi grade and comes blast-frozen at peak freshness using super-freezing technology to ensure quality, safety, texture, color, and flavor are preserved in the same manner as the best sushi-grade fish available.
However, "sushi-grade" or "sashimi-grade" are common terms used to identify seafood considered “ready to be eaten raw” and there is no official, regulated standard for these terms.
The FDA cautions against consuming seafood raw, as it can harbor parasites, bacteria, and viruses that could potentially make consumers sick. However, according to the FDA, super-freezing seafood in a commercial sub-zero storage freezer (as we do with all raw Seatopia seafood) helps ensure any potential parasites are destroyed and is required for many species of seafood to be consumed raw.
Interestingly, the FDA Food Code exempts the super-freezing requirement for any aquaculture fish raised to Best Aquaculture Practices.
Nevertheless, our conservative lawyers suggest we remind that consuming raw or undercooked seafood or shellfish may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.
Why do you mercury test your seafood?
At Seatopia, mercury testing is a critical step in ensuring the safety and quality of our seafood. We test every lot harvested for mercury because even minimal exposure can be harmful, particularly for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. Mercury testing allows us to certify that our seafood has quantifiably less than 0.1 PPM of mercury, offering peace of mind to consumers seeking cleaner, safer seafood options. This commitment to testing and transparency helps distinguish our artisanal products from factory-farmed seafood, which may not undergo such rigorous scrutiny. Our dedication to safety is what allows us to promise not just great-tasting but also conscientiously sourced and trustworthy seafood. Learn more.
What is regenerative aquaculture?
Regenerative aquaculture is a sustainable approach to farming in aquatic environments that focuses on rebuilding and revitalizing the ecosystem rather than simply extracting resources from it. This practice promotes biodiversity, recycles waste, and aims to improve the health of the aquatic environment.
Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is a prime example of regenerative aquaculture. It involves cultivating multiple, complementary species from different trophic levels together in the same system. For instance, fish may be farmed alongside shellfish and seaweeds, each playing a role in creating a balanced ecosystem. Fish waste provides nutrients for the shellfish and seaweeds, which in turn filter and purify the water, reducing the environmental impact and creating a symbiotic relationship among the different species.
IMTA systems are designed to mimic natural ecological processes, and when managed correctly, can increase yield and stability of the aquaculture system while ensuring the environmental footprint is minimized. These systems demonstrate how aquaculture can contribute positively to the environment and provide a sustainable food source. Learn more about regenerative aquaculture.
What is artisan versus factory farming?
Artisan farming and factory farming represent two very different approaches to agriculture, whether on land or in water (aquaculture).
Artisan Farming: Artisan farming is characterized by a high level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and often involves traditional methods. In the context of aquaculture, artisan farms typically operate on a smaller scale and prioritize the well-being of the environment and the quality of the product over mass production. These farms often utilize special feeds, such as those derived from algae and insect proteins, which are more expensive but yield higher-quality seafood. Artisan farmers may engage in practices like Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) or Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) that are more complex and eco-friendly. The fish produced are generally sold at a premium, catering to consumers who value and are willing to pay for superior taste, nutritional value, and sustainability.
Factory Farming: On the flip side, factory farming is typified by large-scale, industrial operations focused on maximizing production efficiency and profits. In such settings, the approach is often monocultural, meaning a single species is mass-produced. These operations rely on commodity feeds, which are cheaper but less nutritionally rich and may not be as eco-friendly. The focus is on volume and cost-cutting, which can lead to diminished product quality and greater environmental degradation, including the overuse of resources and increased pollution.
In sum, the key differences hinge on scale, feed quality, environmental impact, and the end product's value. Artisan farms invest in quality and sustainability, while factory farms prioritize efficiency and output, often at the expense of other factors.
Why farmed not wild seafood?
Farmed versus wild seafood is a complex debate with passionate proponents on both sides. In the context of Seatopia, our stance is grounded in sustainability and regeneration. We choose to endorse and partner with specific artisan farms that are at the forefront of pioneering practices such as Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), rather than supporting generic, mass-produced farmed seafood. This approach ensures that our seafood not only has a minimal environmental footprint but also supports the larger mission of creating a regenerative seafood supply chain, addressing the critical issue of overfishing in our oceans. Our aim is to provide seafood that is not just sustainable but actively contributes to the health of marine ecosystems. Learn more!
Helpful links
We provide a tracking # via email after the order has shipped. You can also track you order here if you have your tracking number or contact customer service at nemo@seatopia.fish.
If at anytime you need to skip, pause, or cancel your subscription, simply login to your Subscription Portal at My Account > Manage Subscriptions.
To change your address, contact information or reschedule your order that has not been shipped yet, please reach out to us via email at nemo@seatopia.fish.