JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Families across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia are noticing higher seafood prices this Lent, particularly Friday fish fries and restaurant meals.
A major local supplier says rising global shipping costs and tariffs are behind the increases.
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“Any supply chain disruption is going to decrease availability. It will make the items go up in price,” said Mark Frisch, owner and executive vice president of BSF, formerly known as Beaver Street Fisheries.
Imported seafood — which makes up roughly 80% of the industry’s products — has been especially affected by global pressures, seafood industry experts say.
Tariffs, shipping delays, and disruptions to supply chains mean the cost to bring seafood into the United States has risen.
For perspective, bulk shrimp that restaurants purchased for about $4.50 per pound last Lent is now closer to $6 per pound, a jump that echoes across distributors and foodservice operations.
“There are a lot of global effects on our industry, so this is an industry that relies on 80% of imported goods. When there are impacts globally, it impacts us in the United States,” Frisch said. “Whether it’s tariffs, whether it’s what’s happening in the Middle East, and the way product moves around the world through cargo ships, etc.”
Frisch said BSF has adapted by increasing its domestic processing capacity.
News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson asked Frisch how BSF is planning for the future in the years ahead.
“Well, not necessarily short-term solutions, but looking where we are today is a plant that we refurbished an old freezer and made this a processing plant here. So, we can do more processing in Jacksonville, so one of the things we would like to do is more processing in Jacksonville. So, the tariff impact will be less,” Frisch explained.
Despite ongoing global challenges, BSF’s 450 employees keep operations moving.
The company credits its resilience to its roots: a family story dating back to the 1950s, when Frisch’s grandfather and his brother came to Jacksonville with nothing but hard work and determination.
“Amazingly, we are talking about people who came here, couldn’t speak English, and didn’t have a dollar. It’s just a true story of hard work and perseverance. The classic American dream,” Frisch said.
BSF serves retail and foodservice customers across the U.S. and in 52 countries, giving the company a front-row view of seafood pricing and supply trends.
Frisch says that even with higher costs, sales remain steady as the company and its customers adjust to the global pressures affecting the seafood market.
For Jacksonville families, the result is a noticeable increase at the grocery store and local restaurants, particularly for Lent staples like shrimp and cod.