It’s your decision as to whether you’ll deliver the seed to the farmers you’re supplying or if you want to have them pick up their spools. There are two main methods for packaging and transferring seed spools. Although the specifics of each system might differ based on the hatchery and the distance of travel, in general, spools are either transported:

Paper towel method

One option is the dry, or paper towel, transfer method. You can take the spool, wrap it in paper towels that have been dampened in chilled, filtered seawater, and gently stack it in an insulated box with an ice pack. They are able to withstand these conditions for about 36 hours before outplanting. This is a great option when you are shipping spools or delivering a large quantity, because it is light and compact. See the video below on how it’s done. You can also refer to this Seed Spool Transportation Protocol if needed.

Transfer tube method

The second method is the transfer tube method, where we repurpose our 4” PVC seeding tubes to secure individual spools for transfer. The tube will be filled with chilled, filtered seawater and fitted with a styrofoam ring at the top and bottom for extra stability, ensuring the spool do not bump into the walls and wipe off any blades. As long as the water in the tube stays cool (by refrigeration or using a cooler packed with ice), the spool can withstand these conditions for up to 36 hours. Some downfalls of this method include turbulence the water creates within the tubes that can cause some blades to fall off and the water weight can make it very difficult to travel with. See how we package spools using transfer tubes in the video below.