The following refrigeration methods are used:  

• Mechanical refrigeration using either wall coolers or forced convection coolers blowing air throughout the storage space. In some cases, a jacketed system for distributing the air is employed. This is the most common system. 
• Rechargeable eutectic plates. 
• Solid or liquid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen  

The temperature of chilled products must be as close as possible to 0 °C or, for frozen fish, shellfish and their products, to maintain a temperature of –18 °C or colder (except for brine frozen fish intended for canning which may be transported at –9 °C or colder).  

The initial temperature of the fish, whether the vehicle is fully or partly loaded, the size of the load, the insulation quality and thickness, the degree of air ingress and the local climatic conditions all influence the efficiency and temperature control. A local trial will ascertain the maximum range attainable. But generally speaking, the temperature control requirements for chilled foods are more difficult to achieve than those for frozen foods. Typically, it may be necessary to maintain cook-chill products between 0C and 5ºC, and for many products closer tolerances are required, whereas with frozen foods there will be an upper limit temperature, perhaps –18ºC, but no lower limit.  

Refrigerated containers or reefers – also known as intermodal freight containers (‘ISO’ containers) with integral refrigeration machinery – are widely used for the long-distance transport of fresh/chilled and frozen seafood. This equipment is capable of maintaining either frozen or chilled goods at any selected temperature between –25°C and +30°C in ambient temperatures from –20°C to +50°C. Air flows from the bottom container to the top. Warmer air is pulled from inside the container, chilled inside the refrigeration unit and forced back inside. Integrated containers typically have grated floors to ensure proper ventilation and air circulation. These containers are either 20 of 40 feet in length (1 foot = 0.3048 meters), and can be transported by road as well as sea.  

There are logistics companies which specialize in refrigerated fish transport. Some have custom built equipment to cope with the needs of the fishing industry.