Make your flight reservations. If shipping seafood only as cargo, fill out advanced booking information 12 to 48 hours prior to departure online or by calling the airline directly. Inquire if your particular airline accepts frozen seafood cargo, as airline regulations change regularly.
Purchase an airline approved seafood box or Wetlock carton. These containers are available at fish processors or the UPS packaging store. Make sure the seafood box is stress tested for 275 pounds. A strong plastic cooler may be used as well.
Buy or obtain a 4 ml polyethylene bag, large enough to hold your crabs. These bags are used in conjunction with the seafood box and are available at the same locations as the cartons. A strong plastic bag is also crucial if you're using a cooler.
Pack your frozen Dungeness crab in the 4 ml polyethylene bag. Seal the plastic bag with rubber bands or nylon clips. Make sure it will not leak.
Place the bag with the crab inside your seafood box or cooler. Surround the bag with gel ice packs. The seafood industry recommends using one pound of frozen gel packs per 25 pounds of seafood. Make sure there is enough ice to last about 48 hours.
Seal the box or cooler securely with duct tape or strapping tape. Wrap the tape around the cooler to ensure the top will not move in shipping.
Fill out and attach a proper shipping label to your seafood box or cooler. Make sure that your address, telephone number and kind of seafood inside is clearly indicated.
Bring your Dungeness crab box to the airport. Deposit the box at the cargo department if it is to be shipped only as cargo and fill out the proper documentation. If you are flying with the crab, check it in as your luggage.
