Q2 · Net weight vs glazed weight — which one am I actually paying for?

A: You should always contract on net weight (edible product after ice is excluded); glazed weight includes the ice and is only a packing reference. We quote and invoice on net weight and declare both figures on the packing list so customs and your finance team see the same numbers. If a supplier quotes only glazed weight, ask for the net-weight equivalent before comparing prices.

Q3 · How is IQF different from block frozen, and which should I choose?

A: IQF freezes pieces individually so they stay loose and portionable; block frozen packs them into a slab that must be thawed whole. Choose IQF when you need exact portioning, lower thaw loss, and longer in-kitchen usability; choose block when cost per kg is the priority and you process in bulk. We supply both and recommend the format that fits your application.

Q4 · What size grading do you use for squid strips and fish portions?

A: We grade by count-per-kg (e.g., 20/30, 30/40) and by length/weight bands, depending on species and cut. Each grade is fixed in the specification sheet with an allowable tolerance so your receiving QC has a clear pass/fail line. Tell us the grade your market expects and we match it or suggest the closest commercial alternative.

Q5 · How is glaze percentage verified, and can I re-test it on arrival?

A: Glaze is measured by comparing glazed weight to drained net weight after a controlled thaw, and we record it on the inspection report. You can re-test the same way at your warehouse, and we accept independent re-weighing in a dispute process. We recommend stating the glaze tolerance in the contract so both sides measure the same way.

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Frozen Block Long-Arm Octopus (Octopus minor) — Easyseafood

Long-Arm Octopus in this product is the small benthic octopus Octopus minor — also known as long-arm octopus, whiparm octopus, or (in Korean cuisine) nakji — supplied whole, gutted and cleaned, block-frozen (BQF). It is a mollusc of the class Cephalopoda (order Octopoda), not a fish and not a crustacean. Other octopus species can be substituted per buyer spec, but the catalog default is Octopus minor, the slender-armed species distributed along the coasts of eastern China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula (Yellow Sea / East China Sea). "Long-arm" refers to its elongated arms, which are far longer than its small mantle — the trait that gives the product its market name.

Octopus minor is a small, soft-bodied octopus with a mantle up to ~18 cm and arms reaching ~65 cm, found on muddy bottoms of the Northwest Pacific shelf. For this product it is caught wild, then processed: each octopus is cleaned — viscera, ink sac and the hard beak removed — and block-frozen (BQF) in cartons (typically 10 kg blocks), with a light protective glaze. Supplied whole with all eight arms intact (the long arms are the selling point), graded by piece weight (commonly 50–100 g, 100–200 g and 200–300 g per piece). Wild origin means MSC is applicable and ASC / BAP / GLOBALG.A.P. are not the standard route unless a farmed source is specifically contracted.

Key Features

Wild-caught Octopus minor (long-arm / whiparm octopus, nakji) — catalog default species
Whole, cleaned: viscera, ink sac and beak removed; eight arms intact
Block-frozen (BQF) — 10 kg blocks, light glaze; lower cost, suited to bulk reprocessing
Graded by piece weight: 50–100 / 100–200 / 200–300 g per piece
Mollusc, class Cephalopoda (not fish, not crustacean)
Tender, mildly sweet meat; long arms ideal for nakji, stir-fry and hot pot
Wild supply — MSC-applicable; ASC / BAP / GLOBALG.A.P. NOT applicable unless farmed source contracted

Applications

Asian cuisine / nakji: braised, blanched or stir-fried whole-arm octopus (a Korean and Japanese staple)
Hot pot / steamboat: quick-cooked pieces
Reprocessing: portioning into tentacle cuts, octopus-ball (takoyaki-style) base, dried/salted product
Foodservice & ethnic retail: whole frozen octopus

Certifications

MSC — applicable for certified wild fisheries (Octopus minor is wild-caught)

ASC / BAP / GLOBALG.A.P. — NOT applicable as standard (these are aquaculture standards; commercial O. minor is wild-caught — confirm if a farmed source is contracted)

HACCP / BRC / IFS / ISO 22000 — food-safety systems for processing

HALAL / KOSHER — available on request

China CIQ: declare as 0307520000102 (wild) or 0307520000101 (farmed) per source

Storage & Handling

Frozen at -18 °C or below. Typical shelf life 18–24 months under unbroken cold chain. Because block-frozen arms can cling together, the block is thawed whole before portioning. Thaw in refrigerator; do not refreeze after thawing. Keep glaze intact until use.

FAQ

Q1. Which octopus species is this — and can it be substituted? A. The catalog default is Octopus minor (long-arm / whiparm octopus, nakji), the slender-armed species of East Asia. Buyers sometimes use "octopus" loosely for several species — Octopus vulgaris (common octopus), Amphioctopus fangsiao (short-arm octopus), Enteroctopus dofleini (giant Pacific octopus) — which differ in size, texture and price. Fix the Latin name Octopus minor on the purchase order and packing list to prevent substitution, and confirm it on the health certificate and the customs declaration.

Q2. What does "cleaned" mean for octopus, and why does it matter? A. Octopus carries inedible hard and dirty parts that must be removed before freezing: the internal viscera, the ink sac (which would stain and spoil), and the beak (the hard parrot-like mouth). "Cleaned" in this product means all three are removed; the eight arms and mantle are left whole. If you require a different trim (e.g. skin-on vs skin-off, or arm-only cuts), state it on the specification — but never accept product with the ink sac or beak left in.

Q3. What HS code and declaration elements apply to frozen octopus? A. HS 0307.52 — "Octopus, frozen" (China 10-digit 0307520000). Do not use 0307.51 (live/fresh/chilled octopus) or 0307.59 (other molluscs). Frozen octopus under China CIQ further splits by source: 0307520000102 (wild) or 0307520000101 (farmed) — declare the correct one. The customs declaration also requires the Latin scientific name, the individual piece weight, and the pack specification — these are mandatory declaration elements for octopus, so have them ready on the paperwork.

Q4. Block-frozen (BQF) or IQF — which should I choose? A. BQF (block-frozen) is the lower-cost option and suits buyers who reprocess in bulk (the block is thawed whole, then cut into portions or tentacle cuts). The downside: the long arms cling together and the block must be thawed before use. IQF (individually quick-frozen) keeps each octopus separate and free-flowing for retail and ready-portion use, at higher cost. Block-frozen is the standard for this long-arm octopus line; request IQF only if your operation needs loose, separate pieces.

Q5. Is this farmed or wild, and which sustainability label applies? A. Octopus minor in this line is wild-caught from coastal fisheries, so MSC is the applicable sustainability label. ASC / BAP / GLOBALG.A.P. do NOT apply as standard because those are aquaculture certifications and commercial O. minor is not farmed at scale. If your market specifically requires an aquaculture label, a farmed source would have to be contracted separately — otherwise specify MSC and confirm the fishery certificate for the batch.

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Cut size, packaging format, labeling, private label— built to your market's requirements. From500g retail vacuum bags to 20kg industrial bulkcartons, one call changes the spec.

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No seasonal gaps, no supply surprises. Ourprocurement network and cold-storage capacityensure consistent product availability —- thefoundation of any long-term wholesalepartnership.

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Frequently asked questions

Specs & Quality

Logistics & Loading

Compliance & Documents

Trading Terms

Samples & Audit

A: A 20% glaze means 20% of the glazed weight is protective ice, so you pay seafood price for ice and pay freight on it too. Lower glaze raises the usable-meat percentage and improves your plate cost, but too little glaze raises freezer-burn risk on long transit. We offer glaze from 0% to 20% and state it explicitly on every specification sheet so your cost math is transparent. Tell us your target glaze and we quote against it.