Shellfish
We offer an impressive selection of live, fresh and frozen premium shellfish. Live cockles and mussels are robust enough from cold waters for menu placement year-round, while Coromandel oysters, uni and scallops are brought in seasonally as a best-in-class product due to their counter-seasonality.
Our head-on prawn program is the most diverse in North America with year-round supply, accompanied by premium lobster offerings that differ from the standard products in the market.
LIVE SHELLFISH
About
Also known as Japanese oysters, offering a unique minerality, brininess and other characteristics of the water they inhabit.
Latin Name:
Crassostrea gigas
Crassostrea gigas
Origin:
- New Zealand
- USA
- B.C.
Method of Harvest:
Farmed
Farmed
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
An important commercial shellfish in New Zealand, these are true cockles in the family Cardiidae.
Latin Name:
Austrovenus stutchbury
Austrovenus stutchbury
Origin:
- New Zealand
Method of Harvest:
Wet, body dredge harvest (Farmed)
Wet, body dredge harvest (Farmed)
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
Also known as greenlipped mussels, these gems are New Zealand’s most iconic seafood. Revered globally for their generous size in comparison to black mussels, gorgeous green shell, superb taste, and rich nutrient profile.
Latin Name:
Perna canaliculus
Perna canaliculus
Origin:
- New Zealand
Method of Harvest:
Rope-cultured (Farmed)
Rope-cultured (Farmed)
About
A West Coast treasure, California spiny lobsters are prized for their sweet, firm, yet succulent tail meat, delivering more meat pound-for-pound than Maine lobster.
Latin Name:
Panulirus interruptus
Panulirus interruptus
Origin:
- USA
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
October-March
October-March
About
Classic Maine lobsters are celebrated for their sweet, tender meat, especially in the claws and tail. Their versatile flavor and texture make them a favorite in a wide range of culinary preparations.
Latin Name:
Homarus americanus
Homarus americanus
Origin:
- USA
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
Diver-harvested from the Santa Barbara Channel, California sea urchins are prized for the uni inside, a delicacy celebrated for its rich umami flavor and creamy texture.
Latin Name:
Mesocentrotus franciscanus
Mesocentrotus franciscanus
Origin:
- USA
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
Sustainably farmed in the pristine waters of Santa Barbara, abalone are prized for their tender texture and delicate, buttery flavor, as well as their striking shells, which can be incorporated into presentations.
Latin Name:
Haliotis rufescens
Haliotis rufescens
Origin:
- USA
Method of Harvest:
Farmed
Farmed
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
FROZEN SHELLFISH
About
Tiger prawns are notably larger than other prawn species and easily recognized by their distinctive stripes, which turn bright red when cooked. There are two types, grooved and brown, which are found all around Australia.
Latin Name:
Penaeus semisulcatus / Penaeus esculentus
Penaeus semisulcatus / Penaeus esculentus
Origin:
- Australia
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
In this case the name “King” refers to the species of shrimp, not necessarily its size. Small, medium, and large King prawns exist, each distinguishable by a blue tail tip when raw, that turns pink to orange when cooked.
Latin Name:
Melicertus plebejus
Melicertus plebejus
Origin:
- South Australia’s Spencer Gulf and Great Barrier Reef (Queensland)
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
Banana prawns come in two varieties: white-legged and red-legged and are an economical alternative to the king prawn. Their firm meat retains its texture and shape well, and tasting sweeter than other prawns and being well-suited for spicy foods, they are often preferred for Asian cuisine.
Latin Name:
Penaeus merguiensis / Penaeus indicus
Penaeus merguiensis / Penaeus indicus
Origin:
- Australia
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
Also known as Spanner crab, Kona crab is a high value species celebrated for its super sweet meat. Found only in a few places worldwide, it was first popularized in Hawaii where it still maintains prominence on high-end menus, often serving as a premium alternative to Dungeness,
Latin Name:
Ranina ranina
Ranina ranina
Origin:
- Australia
Method of Harvest:
Wild
Wild
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
About
A rare and celebrated hybrid based on the blacklip and greenlip abalone species, Jade Tiger Abalone is typically found in upscale restaurants and retailers. It is prized for its stunning green shell with vibrant tiger stripe, and its sweet, tender pearly meat — qualities that together provide an unmatched culinary experience.
Latin Name:
Haliotis rubra x H. laevigata
Haliotis rubra x H. laevigata
Origin:
- Australia
Method of Harvest:
Farmed
Farmed
Availability:
Year-round
Year-round
Want more details?
The Lee Fish sales team is ready to answer your questions. Contact us!
