Maintaining Live Product Quality

Overview

For premium shellfish distributors, maintaining live product quality is essential from arrival through delivery. That is why Pangea Shellfish Company invested in a more advanced wet storage approach using Saeplast MS705 wet storage containers as part of an integrated live seafood holding system. On its website, Pangea describes itself as a wholesale shellfish company that has been building shellfish programs for distributors, restaurants, retailers, and corporate groups since 2001.

With Saeplast 705 containers paired with an Aqua Production Systems for filtration, cooling, and water management, Pangea created a more controlled environment for live shellfish while also increasing storage capacity and improving operational efficiency.

The Challenge

Before installing the new system, Pangea’s older wet storage setup did not
provide the same consistency or holding performance needed for a growing,
premium shellfish operation. In the customer testimonial, Pangea explains that certain species could not be held successfully in the old system: some species would live, while other species could not be viably stored.

That limitation affected Pangea’s ability to grow their product line. Certain live products, especially those stressed by transport which needed a better recovery environment. Pangea also wanted more usable holding capacity and better water quality than its previous wet storage area could provide.

The Solution

Pangea adopted Saeplast 705 wet storage containers within an Aqua
Production Systems holding system designed for live seafood. The containers are stacked two high to save floor space and are connected in a way that allows water to flow between tubs through internal piping. This setup helps improve oxygenation, supports better water circulation, and allows contaminants to collect at the bottom of the container.

The integrated system also includes water filtration, cooling, and environmental controls that help maintain more consistent conditions for live shellfish. As Ben Lloyd, Owner and President, puts it, “Everything’s uniform,= temperature, salinity, they’re loving life.”

Better conditions for live shellfish

A key benefit of the new system is its ability to create a more stable holding environment. Pangea specifically notes that shellfish respond well to the uniform temperature and salinity, and that the new system succeeds where the old one could not.

This is especially valuable for species that arrive stressed from transport. Pangea describes how products such as manila clams can arrive tired after air freight, reducing shelf life for restaurants if there is no wet storage recovery step. With the new system, the shellfish can recover in controlled water conditions while also purging sand and mud, helping the product return to a stronger market- ready state.

Pangea also highlights the benefit for geoducks, noting that the system allows them to hold inventory they otherwise could not practically stock due to buying minimums and supply logistics.

More capacity, better efficiency

The Saeplast-based setup has also given Pangea a substantial increase in capacity. In the testimonial, the company estimates holding capacity at approximately 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of live product. It also describes the new installation as roughly six times the size of its earlier wet storage area, with filtration that is “tenfold” better than before.

Pangea also highlights the benefit for geoducks, noting that the system allows them to hold inventory they otherwise could not practically stock due to buying minimums and supply logistics.

That combination of higher capacity and improved water quality has created a stronger operating platform. Pangea says it now has more product than ever before, giving the business greater flexibility to meet demand while maintaining the quality standards expected in premium shellfish distribution.

Why Saeplast 705 containers made a difference

For wet storage applications, performance depends on more than just holding product. It depends on how efficiently the system uses water, how well it protects live seafood, and how effectively it uses available floor space.

In Pangea’s application, the Saeplast 705 wet storage containers supported all three goals:

stacking two high to maximize floor space efficiency
enabling water flow between containers through internal piping
supporting contaminant collection and better oxygen conditions within the system
helping maintain strong, healthy live product in a more controlled
environment

Customer impact

By upgrading to a Saeplast-based wet storage solution, Pangea Shellfish improved both the quality and scalability of its live shellfish operation. The results include:

more consistent temperature and salinity control for live product
improved recovery and holding conditions for stressed shellfish after
transport
increased inventory flexibility for products such as geoducks and manila clams
significantly greater holding capacity than the previous system
better water quality and stronger filtration performance

The Results

Pangea Shellfish says its mission is centered on building successful shellfish
programs and providing access to a broad range of oyster and shellfish products. The company states that it has been serving distributors, restaurants, retailers, and corporate groups since 2001.

About Pangea Shellfish

“Everything’s uniform, temperature, salinity, they’re loving life. They’re pretty darn happy.” Ben Lloyd.

Conclusion

Pangea Shellfish’s experience shows how the right wet storage setup can transform live seafood handling. With Saeplast 705 wet storage containers integrated into a controlled Aqua Production system, Pangea gained a more efficient footprint, stronger water quality, improved live product recovery, and the capacity needed to support continued growth.

Looking to improve your live seafood holding operation? Discover how Saeplast wet storage containers can help maximize space, improve water flow, and protect live product quality in demanding seafood environments.