Blue Star Foods Corp. [BSFC] Filings

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2023

or

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission file number: 001-40991

BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(305) 836-6858

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of the “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “non-accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $2,199,788.

As of April 1, 2024, there were 40,682,568 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information, this report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements include, among others, those statements including the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans” and words of similar import. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, potential target businesses, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you therefore that you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as statements of historical fact or as guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include changes in local, regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market (supply and demand) and regulatory conditions and the following:

These risks and others described under the section “Risk Factors” below are not exhaustive.

Given these uncertainties, readers of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

All references in this Annual Report to the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”, are to Blue Star Foods Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, John Keeler & Co., Inc., d/b/a Blue Star Foods, a Florida corporation (“Keeler & Co.”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Coastal Pride Seafood, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“Coastal Pride”) and Taste of BC Aquafarms, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada (“TOBC”).

Unless otherwise noted, all share and the price per share information in this Annual Report for all periods presented reflect the reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock at a ratio of 1-for-20 (“Reverse Stock Split”), which became effective as of June 21, 2023. On the opening of the market on June 22, 2023, our common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on a post-reverse stock split basis.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

History

We were incorporated on October 17, 2017 in the State of Delaware as a blank check company to be used as a vehicle to pursue a business combination with an unidentified target. Following the Merger (as described below), we changed our name from “AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.” to “Blue Star Foods Corp.” and succeeded to the business of Keeler & Co.

Merger

On November 8, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”), with Keeler & Co., Blue Star Acquisition Corp., our newly formed, wholly-owned Florida subsidiary (“Acquisition Sub”), and John Keeler, Keeler & Co’s sole stockholder (the “Sole Stockholder”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Acquisition Sub merged with and into Keeler & Co, which was the surviving corporation and thus became our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Merger”).

At the Closing Date, each of the 25 shares of common stock of Keeler & Co issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger were converted into 1,500 shares of our common stock. As a result, an aggregate of 750,000 shares of our common stock were issued to the Sole Stockholder.

At the effective time of the Merger, the Company redeemed an aggregate of 462,500 shares of common stock from the pre-Merger stockholders of the Company (the “Pre-Merger Holders”) for cancellation by the Company (the “Share Redemption”) and, as a result, the Pre-Merger Holders retained an aggregate of 37,500 shares of common stock after the Merger, representing a value of $1.5 million. The shares were redeemed in consideration for the direct benefit the Pre-Merger Holders will receive in connection with the consummation of the Merger.

Offering

Concurrently with the closing of the Merger, we closed a private placement offering (the “Offering”) in which we sold an aggregate of 36 units of our securities (the “Units”) at a purchase price of $20,000 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $725,000. Each Unit consisted of one share of the Company’s 8% Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Stock”) and a three-year warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase one-half of one share of common stock for every share of common stock that would be received upon conversion of a share of Series A Stock (the “Warrant Shares”), at an exercise price of $48.00. The Series A Stock is convertible into shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, at a conversion rate of $40.00 per share (the “Conversion Rate”). We issued 17,663 Warrant Shares in the Offering, which Warrant Shares are exercisable independently of any conversion of Series A Stock. The net proceeds of the Offering were used by the Company for general corporate purposes. All of the Series A Stock have been converted to shares of the Company’s common stock.

Company Settlement

Effective upon the closing of the Merger, we issued an aggregate of 34 Units to eleven “accredited investors” (the “Settlement Parties”) for each such individual or entity entering into a settlement and mutual general release agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with the Company in full and complete settlement and satisfaction and release of claims such Settlement Parties may have against the Company (the “Company Settlement”).

Upon the closing of the Merger, (i) options to purchase an aggregate of 5 shares of Keeler & Co’s common stock at an exercise price of $200,000 per share, which were outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, were converted into a ten-year immediately exercisable options to purchase an aggregate of 156,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.66 (which option was subsequently terminated unexercised), and (ii) a ten-year option to purchase 156,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $40.00, which vested one-year from the date of grant.

Changes to the Board of Directors and Executive Officers

On the Closing Date of the Merger, the then-current directors and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Company resigned from all such positions as directors and officers of the Company and were replaced by new officers and directors.

Lock-ups

In connection with the Merger, each of our executive officers and directors after giving effect to the Merger (the “Restricted Holders”) and each of the Pre-Merger Holders, holding at the closing date of the Merger an aggregate of 37,500 shares of our common stock, entered into lock-up agreements (the “Lock-Up Agreements”), whereby the Restricted Holders were restricted for a period of 18 months and the Pre-Merger Holders were restricted for 12 months, after the Merger (the “Restricted Period”), from sales or dispositions (including pledges) in excess of 50% of all of the common stock held by (or issuable to) them and at a price below $44.0 per share (such restrictions together the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding such restrictions, during the Restricted Period (i) the Restricted Holders may transfer up to 10% of their shares to a charitable organization which agrees to be bound by such Lock-Up restrictions and (ii) the Pre-Merger Holders may transfer up to 10% of their shares to a third party which agrees to be bound by such Lock-Up restrictions. From and after the Restricted Period, neither the Restricted Holders nor the Pre-Merger Holders may sell, dispose or otherwise transfer more than one-third of the common stock held by such Holder in any two-month period.

Redemption from Pre-Merger Holders

In connection with the Merger, the Company redeemed an aggregate of 462,500 shares of common stock from the Company’s Pre-Merger Holders for cancellation by the Company (the “Share Redemption”) and, as a result, the stockholders retained an aggregate of 37,500 shares of common stock after the Merger (the “Retained Shares”), representing a value of $1.5 million. The shares were redeemed in consideration for the direct benefit the Pre-Merger Holders will receive in connection with the consummation of the Merger.

Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, and 5,000,000 shares of the preferred stock, of which 10,000 shares have been designated as Series A Stock. Our common stock is not traded on any exchange. Our common stock was quoted on the OTC pink sheets under the symbol “BSFC” since February 18, 2020. Our common stock was approved for listing on NASDAQ under the symbol “BSFC” and began trading on November 3, 2021.

Coastal Pride Acquisition

On November 26, 2019, Keeler & Co., Inc. (the “Purchaser”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Coastal Merger Agreement”) with Coastal Pride Company, Inc., a South Carolina corporation, Coastal Pride Seafood, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Keeler & Co. (the “Acquisition Subsidiary” and, upon the effective date of the Coastal Merger, the “Surviving Company), and The Walter F. Lubkin, Jr. Irrevocable Trust dated 1/8/03 (the “Trust”), Walter F. Lubkin III (“Lubkin III”), Tracy Lubkin Greco (“Greco”) and John C. Lubkin (“Lubkin”), constituting all of the shareholders of Coastal Pride Company, Inc. immediately prior to the Coastal Merger (collectively, the “Coastal Sellers”). Pursuant to the terms of the Coastal Merger Agreement, Coastal Pride Company, Inc. merged with and into the Acquisition Subsidiary, with the Acquisition Subsidiary being the surviving company (the “Coastal Merger”).

Coastal Pride is a seafood company, based in Beaufort, South Carolina, that imports pasteurized and fresh crabmeat sourced primarily from Mexico and Latin America and sells premium branded label crabmeat throughout North America.

Pursuant to the terms of the Coastal Merger Agreement, the following consideration was paid by Keeler & Co.: (i) an aggregate of $394,622 in cash; (ii) a five-year 4% promissory note in the principal amount of $500,000 (the “Lubkin Note), issued by Keeler & Co. to Walter Lubkin Jr. (“Walter Jr.”); (iii) three-year 4% convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $210,000 (collectively, the “Sellers Notes” and together with the Lubkin Note, the “Notes”), issued by Keeler & Co. to Greco, Lubkin III and Lubkin, pro rata to their ownership of Coastal Pride Company, Inc. immediately prior to the Coastal Merger; (iii) 25,000 shares of common stock of the Company, issued to Walter Lubkin, Jr. (the “Walter Jr. Shares”); and (iii) an aggregate of 39,750 shares of common stock of the Company, issued to Greco, Lubkin III and Lubkin, pro rata to their ownership of Coastal Pride Company, Inc. immediately prior to the Coastal Merger (together with the Walter Jr. Shares, the “Consideration Shares”).

The Notes are subject to a right of offset against the Coastal Sellers’ indemnification obligations as described in the Coastal Merger Agreement and are subordinate and subject to prior payment of all indebtedness of John Keeler under the Loan Agreement with Lighthouse Financial Corp., a North Carolina corporation (“Lighthouse”).

Principal and interest under the Lubkin Note are payable quarterly, commencing February 26, 2020, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $25,000 and (i) 25% of the Surviving Company’s quarterly earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

One-sixth of the principal and interest under the Sellers Notes are payable quarterly commencing on August 26, 2021. The Sellers Notes are convertible into shares of common stock of the Company at the Seller’s option, at any time after the first anniversary of the date of the Note, at the rate of 0.05 share for each $40.00 of principal and/or interest so converted (the “Conversion Shares”).

Keeler & Co. has the right to prepay the Notes in whole or in part at any time without penalty or premium.

At the effective time of the Coastal Merger, the Coastal Sellers entered into leak-out agreements (each, a “Leak-Out Agreement”) pursuant to which the Coastal Sellers and Walter Jr. may not directly or indirectly pledge, sell, or transfer any of the Consideration Shares or Conversion Shares, or enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers any of the economic consequences of ownership of any such shares for one year from the date of the Coastal Merger. Thereafter, each Seller and Walter Jr. may transfer up to 25% of the aggregate of the Consideration Shares and the Conversion Shares held by such person, in each successive six-month period.

In connection with the Coastal Merger, Lubkin III and Greco agreed to serve as president and chief financial officer, respectively, of the Surviving Company.

ACF Finco I, LP (“ACF”) and Keeler & Co. were parties to a loan and security agreement, originally dated as of August 31, 2016. As a condition to ACF’s waiver of certain events of default under the Loan Agreement, and consent to the formation of the Acquisition Subsidiary and the Coastal Merger, the Acquisition Subsidiary and Keeler & Co. entered into the Joinder and Seventh Amendment to the Loan Agreement which resulted, among other things, in Coastal Pride becoming an additional borrower under the Loan Agreement. On March 31, 2021, Keeler & Co. and Coastal Pride entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Lighthouse, and the loan with ACF was extinguished.

On April 15, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 823 shares of common stock to the Coastal Seller in lieu of payment in cash of accrued interest in the aggregate amount of $39,504 under the Sellers’ Notes.

A combination of cash and shares of common stock were issued on the notes by the Company totaling an aggregate of $180,989 on the Walter Lubkin III Convertible Note, Tracy Greco Convertible Note and John Lubkin Convertible Note and such notes were extinguished on December 31, 2022.

Taste of BC Aquafarms Acquisition

On April 27, 2021, we entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with TOBC, and Steve Atkinson and Janet Atkinson (the “TOBC Sellers”), the owners of all of the capital stock of TOBC (the “TOBC Shares”) pursuant to which we acquired all of the TOBC Shares from the TOBC Sellers for an aggregate purchase price of CAD$4,000,000, subject to adjustment based upon the amount of TOBC’s working capital on the closing date (the “Purchase Price”) as follows: (i) CAD$1,000,000 in cash, pro rata with each TOBC Seller’s ownership of TOBC (ii) by the issuance to each TOBC Seller of a non-interest bearing promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of CAD$200,000, with a maturity date of November 30, 2021, with the principal amount of each note to be pro rata with each TOBC Seller’s ownership of TOBC, and secured by a Company guarantee and a general security agreement creating a security interest over certain assets of the Company, and (iii) 49,387 shares of common stock, (representing CAD$2,800,000 of shares based on USD$46.00 per share) with each TOBC Seller receiving a pro rata portion of such shares based upon the total number of TOBC shares held by such TOBC Seller.

On June 24, 2021, the SPA was amended to increase the purchase price to an aggregate of CAD$5,000,000 and the TOBC acquisition closed. Pursuant to the amendment, on August 3, 2021, an aggregate of 17,248 shares of common stock (representing CAD$1,000,000 of additional shares calculated at USD$46.00 per share) was put in escrow until the 24-month anniversary of the closing. If, within 24 months of the closing, TOBC has cumulative revenue of at least CAD$1,300,000, the TOBC Sellers will receive all of the escrowed shares. If, as of the 24-month anniversary of the closing, TOBC has cumulative revenue of less than CAD$1,300,000, the TOBC Sellers will receive a prorated number of the escrowed shares based on the actual cumulative revenue of TOBC as of such date.

In addition to the foregoing consideration, at the time of the closing, the Company provided CAD$488,334 to TOBC for the extinguishment of certain of TOBC’s existing debt.

The shares of common stock received by the TOBC Sellers are subject to a leak-out restriction commencing on the date of issuance, as follows: (i) up to 25% may be sold after 12 months; (ii) up to 50% may be sold after 18 months; (iii) up to 75% may be sold after 24 months; and (iv) up to 100% may be sold after 30 months.

The TOBC Seller’s non-interest-bearing promissory notes were paid in full at maturity.

In connection with the TOBC acquisition, the TOBC Sellers entered into four-year confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements with the Company.

On July 6, 2023, the Company, TOBC and Steve Atkinson and Janet Atkinson agreed to waive a requirement in the First Amendment to the SPA entered into as of June 24, 2021, that an aggregate of 17,247 shares of common stock of the Company (“Additional Shares”) held in escrow be released if at June 24, 2023, the twenty-four month anniversary of the closing of the acquisition of TOBC by the Company, TOBC had cumulative revenues of at least CAD$1,300,000, or if TOBC’s cumulative revenue had not reached CAD$1,300,000, a prorated number of Additional Shares be released. Accordingly, on July 6, 2023, the Company authorized the release of 8,451 Additional Shares to Steve Atkinson and 8,796 Additional Shares to Janet Atkinson.

Gault Seafood Asset Acquisition

On February 3, 2022, Coastal Pride entered into an asset purchase agreement with Gault Seafood, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company ( “Gault Seafood”), and Robert J. Gault II, President of the Seller (“Gault”) pursuant to which Coastal Pride acquired all of Gault Seafood’s right, title and interest in and to assets relating to Gault Seafood’s soft-shell crab operations, including intellectual property, equipment, vehicles and other assets used in connection with the soft-shell crab operations. Coastal Pride did not assume any liabilities in connection with the acquisition. The purchase price for the assets consisted of a cash payment in the amount of $359,250 and the issuance of 8,355 shares of common stock of the Company with a fair value of $359,250.

Coastal Pride also entered into a consulting agreement with Gault under the terms of which Gault will provide consulting services to Coastal Pride at the rate of $100 per hour, however, the first 45 days of services will be provided at no cost. Gault also agreed not to compete with Coastal Pride and its affiliates for a period of five years in any market in which Coastal Pride is operating or is considering operating or solicit employees, consultants, customers or suppliers or in any way interfere with Coastal Pride’s business relationships for a five-year period, Gault is also bound by customary confidentiality provisions. The Consulting Agreement may be terminated by either party upon five days written notice and by Costal Pride immediately for cause.

In connection with the asset acquisition, Coastal Pride will lease 9,050 square feet from Gault for $1,000 per month under a one-year lease agreement and will continue to operate the acquired soft-shell crab operations at such location in Beaufort, South Carolina unless a new facility is earlier completed.

Our website address is www.bluestarfoods.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report and is intended for informational purposes only.

Overview

We are an international seafood company based in Miami, Florida that imports, packages and sells refrigerated pasteurized crab meat, and other premium seafood products. Our current source of revenue is from importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Indonesia, the Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States and Canada under several brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika, Crab & Go, First Choice, Good Stuff and Coastal Pride Fresh, and steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings produced under the brand name Little Cedar Farms for distribution in Canada. The crab meat which we import is processed in 13 plants throughout Southeast Asia. Our suppliers are primarily via co-packing relationships, including two affiliated suppliers. We sell primarily to food service distributors. We also sell our products to wholesalers, retail establishments and seafood distributors.

Strategy

Our long-term strategy is to create a vertically integrated seafood company that offers customers high quality products while maintaining a focus on our core values of delivering food safety, traceability and certified resource sustainability.

We plan to grow the Company organically by continuing to increase our customer base and by introducing new high-value product lines and categories, as well as strategically acquiring companies that focus on additional species and proprietary technologies that we believe we can integrate into a larger, diversified company.

Operating Companies

We operate through the following subsidiary companies:

Keeler & Co., doing business as Blue Star Foods, is an international seafood company that imports, packages and sells refrigerated pasteurized crab meat sourced primarily from Southeast Asia and other premium seafood products.

Keeler & Co. purchases the majority of our crab product (Portunus Pelagicus and Portunus Haanii) from processors which source the crab meat from local fishermen in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and India, to whom we pay a premium in order to outfit their boats with a proprietary GPS-based system. This system allows us to trace where the crab product originates and ensure that only mature crabs are being harvested by the use of collapsible traps and not gill nets.

The crab meat is purchased directly from processors with whom we have long-standing relationships, that have agreed to source their product in a sustainable manner. All crab meat is sourced under the Company’s U.S Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (“HACCP”) Plan. Additionally, all suppliers are certified by the British Retail Consortium (the “BRC”) and are audited annually to ensure safety and quality of our product.

The imported crab meat is processed in six out of the ten plants available throughout Southeast Asia. Our suppliers are primarily via co-packing relationships, including two affiliated suppliers. We sell primarily to food service distributors. We also sell our products to wholesalers, retail establishments and seafood distributors.

We have created a technology platform that tracks the product through its entire chain of custody and collects and transmits various data to the Company in real-time, from the loading site to the packing plant, through the sorting and pasteurization process and the exporting process to the end customer. Our technology allows our customers access to their “Scan on Demand” QR code-enabled traceability application.

Our premium proprietary brands, Blue Star, Pacifika and Oceanica are differentiated in terms of quality and price point.

We believe that we utilize best-in-class technology, in both resource sustainability management and ecological packaging.

Coastal Pride is a seafood company, based in Beaufort, South Carolina, that imports pasteurized and fresh crab meat (Portunus Pelagicus, Portunus Haanii and Callinectes) sourced primarily from Mexico and Latin America and sells premium branded label crab meat throughout North America.

It has three premium branded label products, First Choice, Good Stuff and Coastal Pride Fresh.

TOBC is a land-based recirculating aquaculture system (“RAS”) farming operation located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada with an annual production capacity of approximately 100 tons. It produces steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings under the brand name Little Cedar Farms for distribution in Canada.

TOBC’s RAS facility has been operated as a model farm for the development of salmon RAS technology. We currently intend to refine this model farm into a 150-ton standardized module that will be replicated in the development of future farms. The next facility we hope to build, subject to sufficient resources, will have 10 such modules, for a total production capacity of 1,500 tons.

The current RAS facility is in an insulated, bio-secure structure in which culture conditions are controlled. The primary RAS system is composed of thirteen culture tanks, a drum filter, a fluidized sand bed biofilter and a low head oxygenator and employs an efficient gravity fed low head arrangement which reduces energy use as compared to other RAS designs. Additionally, there are two independent partial reuse finishing tank systems.

Weekly harvests of approximately two tons of salmon are stunned and bled at the farm and then processed as fresh iced head on gutted (“HOG”) fish at a Canadian Food Inspection Agency approved processing facility. Currently, TOBC sells its salmon mainly to two wholesale seafood distributors in Canada.

Eggs are purchased from two primary suppliers and are hatched approximately every eight weeks. TOBC’s hatchery is composed of a recirculating system that utilizes an upwelling “heath stack” incubator and five tanks with moving bed biofiltration. The fish are then transferred to the main RAS system approximately 12 weeks post hatch. TOBC’s feed is largely terrestrial based from grains and other non-marine ingredients.

We believe that the faster life cycle from birth to harvesting of our salmon, as compared to conventional salmon, allows it to be produced more economically in contained, land-based RAS farms. Although RAS farms require greater capital investment than the sea cage approach, we believe that the higher costs are offset by more efficient growth and a shorter transportation distance to market.

Branded Products

We distribute our imported blue and red swimming crabmeat in the United States under the brand names Blue Star, Pacifika, Oceanica, Crab & Go Premium Seafood, First Choice, Good Stuff and Coastal Pride Fresh and steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings produced by TOBC under the brand name Little Cedar Falls.

Blue Star is packed with only high quality Portunus Pelagicus species crab and is produced under exacting specifications and quality control requirements.

Pacifika is a quality brand for the price conscious end user. The Portunus Haanii crab meat is packed in China and is ideal for upscale plate presentations.

Oceanica is made from the Portunus Haanii crab, which is caught and processed in Vietnam. It is an affordable choice to help reduce food cost without sacrificing the look/taste of dishes.

Crab + Go Premium Seafood is geared towards millennials as part of the trend toward pre-packaged, grab-and-go items. The product is packaged in flexible foil pouches.

Lubkin Brand is packed with quality Portunus Pelagicus species crab in the Philippines and Indonesia.

First Choice is a quality brand packed with Portunus Haanii crab meat from Malaysia.

Good Stuff is a premium brand packed with high quality Callinectes species crab from Mexico.

Coastal Pride Fresh is packed with Callinectes Sapidus from Venezuela and the United States.

Steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings are produced by TOBC under the Little Cedar Falls brand. The fish are sashimi grade and only sold as a fresh item, usually reaching end users within days of harvest.

Competitive Strengths

Sustainable and Traceable Product Sourcing. We believe that our greatest point of differentiation from other seafood companies is our efforts to ensure that our seafood products are ethically sourced in a method that is consistent with our core values and those of our customers.

Proprietary Brands. We have created several brands of crab meat that are well regarded amongst our customers and are differentiated by product quality and price point.

Eco-Friendly Packaging. Another major point of differentiation from our competitors is our use of sustainable and ethical packaging. Our green pouches for Eco-Fresh crab meat are patented in the United States, Europe, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia under patent Nos.1526091 B1 and US Patents 8,337,922 and 8,445,046. We believe since their introduction in 2003, these pouches have saved in excess of a million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions versus metal can packaging material.

Growth Strategy

We intend to grow our business in several ways, including:

Growing our existing businesses. The three current existing businesses each have different pathways to organic growth, including by increasing their reliable access to sustainably sourced marine product and supplying to a larger and more diversified customer base. Our key objective is to optimize the management of the companies across all companies, specifically in the marketing, sourcing and financing departments.

Strategic Acquisitions. We will continue to seek opportunities to acquire companies that allow us to expand into new territories, diversify our species product categories, and where operational synergies with our existing companies may exist. We believe that we may have the ability to layer on a sustainability model to certain companies that operate in a more traditional way, with an opportunity to increase margins by selling a more premium product.

Scaling the RAS Business. We have an internal goal to reach production of 21,000 metric tons of steelhead salmon by 2028. If we can successfully access the necessary funding through the equity capital markets and through certain debt facilities, we hope to build a series of 1,500 metric ton and 3,000 metric ton facilities throughout strategic locations in British Columbia, Canada, where TOBC is currently based.

Industry Overview

The international seafood industry is going through a period of rapid change as it strives to meet the needs of a growing population around the world, where food consumption habits are evolving. We believe there are powerful trends emerging in the developing world (including a growing demand for animal-based protein) as well as in the developed world (where there is an increased awareness and focus on sustainable sourcing and protecting marine ecosystems).

Changes in Population Growth and Global Seafood Consumption:

The United Nations latest projections suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100⁽¹⁾.

As the population has grown, so has per capita fish consumption. Per capita food fish consumption grew from 9.0 kg (live weight equivalent) in the 1960s to 20.2 kg in 2020, at an average annual rate of 3% compared with a population growth rate of 1.6%⁽²⁾.

Rising incomes and urbanization, improvements in post-harvest practices and changes in dietary trends are projected to drive a 15% increase in aquatic food consumption, to supply on average 21.4 kg per capita in 2030⁽³⁾.

Aquaculture Has Developed as a Major Source to Meet Global Seafood Demand:

In 2020, fisheries and aquaculture production reached an all-time record of 214 million tons, worth about $424 billion. Production of aquatic animals in 2020 was more than 60% higher than the average in the 1990s, considerably outpacing world population growth, largely due to increasing aquaculture production⁽⁴⁾.

Total production of aquatic animals is expected to reach 202 million tons in 2030, mainly due to sustained growth of aquaculture, projected to reach 100 million tons for the first time in 2027 and 106 million tons in 2030⁽⁵⁾.

We believe that the growth in consumption drives the increased growth of aquaculture and the need for recirculatory aquatic systems.

(1) United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs – World Population Prospects (2022)

(2)(3)(4)(5) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture – 2022.

Suppliers

We purchase crab meat directly from six processors with which we have long-standing relationships, that have agreed to source their product in a sustainable manner. All crab meat is sourced under the Company’s FDA approved HACCP Plan. Additionally, all suppliers are certified grade A by the BRC and are audited annually to ensure safety and quality.

The Company had four major suppliers located in the United States, Canada and China which accounted for approximately 82% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company’s largest supplier is located in Miami and accounted for 35% of the Company’s total purchases in the year ended December 31, 2023.

Sales, Marketing and Distribution

The Company’s products are sold in the United States and Canada. Its primary current source of revenue is importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Indonesia, the Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States and Canada under several brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika, Crab & Go, Lubkin’s Coastal Pride, First Choice, Good Stuff, Coastal Pride Fresh and TOBC steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings produced under the brand name Little Cedar Falls.

The Company stores its crab meat inventory at a third-party facility in Miami, Florida and distribution takes place from this facility.

The Company has a sales team based throughout the United States who sell directly to customers, most of whom are in the food service and retail industry and also manage a network of regional and national brokers, that cover both the retail and wholesale segments. The sales team and brokers help to pull the products through the system by creating demand at the end user level and pulling the demand through our distributor customers. The Company sells to retail customers either directly or via distributors that specialize in the retail segment.

The Company does not own its own fleet of trucks and utilizes less than truckload freight shipping (“LTL”) national freight carriers to deliver its products to its customers. LTL is used for the transportation of small freight or when freight does not require the use of an entire trailer. When shipping LTL, the Company pays for a portion of a standard truck trailer, and other shippers and their shipments fill the unoccupied space.

Customers

Our customer base is comprised of some of the largest companies in the food service and retail industry throughout the United States. We sell our crab meat to our customers through purchase orders. For the year ended December 31, 2023, sales to food distributors and retail and wholesale clubs accounted for 52% of our revenue. The balance of our revenue is derived from smaller seafood distributors and value-added processors.

The Company had nine customers which accounted for approximately 52% of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2023. Two customers accounted for 22% of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2023. The loss of any major customer could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Competition

In general, the international seafood industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented. We compete with local and overseas manufacturers and importers engaged in similar products.

The Company’s primary competitors in its traditional sustainable seafood businesses are Tri Union Frozen Products, Inc. (Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods), Phillips Foods, Inc., Harbor Seafood, Inc., Newport International and Twin Tails Seafood Corp.

The Company’s primary competitors in its RAS business are Aquabounty, Atlantic Sapphire, Aquaco, Nordic Aquafarms, Whole Oceans, West Coast Salmon and Pure Salmon.

Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property is an essential element of our business. We use a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and other intellectual property laws and confidentiality agreements to protect our intellectual property. Our policy is to seek patent protection in the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions for our products, processes and other technology where available and when appropriate. We also in-license technology, inventions and improvements we consider important to the development of our business.

In addition to our patents, we also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, copyright protection and continuing technological and licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our competitive position. We monitor the activities of our competitors and other third parties with respect to their use of intellectual property. We require our employees to execute confidentiality and non-competition agreements upon commencing employment with us. Despite these safeguards, any of our know-how or trade secrets not protected by a patent could be disclosed to, or independently developed by, a competitor.

It is our standard practice to require our employees to sign agreements acknowledging that all inventions, trade secrets, works of authorship, developments and other processes generated by them on our behalf are our property, and assigning to us any ownership in those works. Despite our precautions, it may be possible for third parties to obtain and use without consent intellectual property that we own. Unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties and the expenses incurred in protecting our intellectual property rights, may adversely affect our business.

Borrowings under our loan and security agreement with Lighthouse are secured by substantially all of our personal property, including our intellectual property.

The following is a list of our patents:

Our patents expire 20 years from the date of issuance which range from year 2007 to 2015.

The following is a list of our registered trademarks and trademarks for which we have filed applications.

Mark		Registration No		Registration Date		Application No.		Application Date
AMERICA’S FAVORITE CRABMEAT		2961590		6/7/05		78344059		12/22/03
ECO-FRESH		4525998		5/6/14		77922376		1/28/10
		3858522		10/5/10		77885209		12/3/09
		3818057		7/13/10		77885203		12/3/09
OCEANICA		3711200		11/17/09		77595180		10/17/08
		2419060		1/9/01		75855876		11/19/19
Lubkin’s Coastal Pride		2879531		8/31/04		78289067		8/19/03
Lubkin’s Good Stuff		N/A		N/A		87919629		5/14/18
Lubkin’s First Choice		H/A		N/A		88645685		10/8/19

Canadian Intellectual Property Office registered trademarks:

Little Cedar Falls – Registration #1766337- Expiration: June 20, 2032

Taste of BC – Registration #1561871 - Expiration: January 31, 2034

Government Regulation

Our third-party distribution facilities and our international suppliers are certified in accordance with the HACCP, standards for exporting aquatic products to the United States. The HACCP standards are developed by the FDA, pursuant to the FDA’s HACCP regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, part 123, and are used by the FDA to help ensure food safety and control sanitary standards.

Food Safety and Labeling

We are subject to extensive regulation, including, among other things, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”), the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA. The FSMA was enacted in order to aid the effective prevention of food safety issues in the food supply. This comprehensive and evolving regulatory program impacts how food is grown, packed, processed, shipped and imported into the United States and it governs compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices regulations. The FDA has finalized seven major rules to implement FSMA, recognizing that ensuring the safety of the food supply is a shared responsibility among many different points in the global supply chain. The FSMA rules are designed to make clear specific actions that must be taken at each of these points to prevent contamination. Some aspects of these laws use a strict liability standard for imposing sanctions on corporate behavior. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we may be subject to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls, or seizures, and criminal sanctions, any of which could impact our results of operations.

In addition, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 prescribes the format and content of certain information required to appear on the labels of food products.

Our operations and products are also subject to state and local regulation, including the registration and licensing of plants, enforcement by state health agencies of various state standards, and the registration and inspection of facilities. Compliance with federal, state and local regulation is costly and time-consuming. Enforcement actions for violations of federal, state, and local regulations may include seizure and condemnation of products, cease and desist orders, injunctions or monetary penalties. We believe that our practices are sufficient to maintain compliance with applicable government regulations.

Trade

For the purchase of products harvested or manufactured outside of the United States, and for the shipment of products to customers located outside of the United States, we are subject to customs laws regarding the import and export of shipments. Our activities, including working with customs brokers and freight forwarders, are subject to regulation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

TOBC

TOBC’s aquafarms facility in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada with an annual production capacity of approximately 100 tons are licensed under the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Harvests of steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings are processed as iced HOG fish locally at a Canadian Food Inspection Agency approved processing facility.

Federal Trade Commission

We are subject to certain regulations by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Advertising of our products is subject to such regulation pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Employee Safety Regulations

We are subject to certain health and safety regulations, including regulations issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These regulations require us to comply with certain manufacturing, health, and safety standards to protect our employees from accidents.

Anticorruption

Because we are organized under the laws of a state and our principal place of business is in the United States, we are considered a “domestic concern” under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and are covered by the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. The provisions prohibit any domestic concern and any officer, director, employee, or agent, acting on behalf of the domestic concern from paying or authorizing payment of anything of value to (i) influence any act or decision by a foreign official; (ii) induce a foreign official to do or omit to do any act in violation of his/her lawful duty; (iii) secure any improper advantage; or (iv) induce a foreign official to use his/her influence to assist the payor in obtaining or retaining business, or directing business to another person.

Environmental Regulation

We are subject to a number of federal, state, and local laws and other requirements relating to the protection of the environment and the safety and health of personnel and the public. These requirements relate to a broad range of our activities, including the discharge of pollutants into the air and water; the identification, generation, storage, handling, transportation, disposal, recordkeeping, labeling, and reporting of, and emergency response in connection with, hazardous materials (including asbestos) associated with our operations; noise emissions from our facilities; and safety and health standards, practices, and procedures that apply to the workplace and the operation of our facilities.

Employees

As of March 28, 2024, we had thirty-nine full time employees and no part-time employees. We believe that our future success will depend, in part, on our continued ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

This Annual Report contains certain statements relating to future events or the future financial performance of our Company. You are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating such statements, you should specifically consider the various factors identified in this annual report, including the matters set forth below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors before deciding to invest in our Company. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects for growth would likely suffer.

Risks Relating to Our Company and Business

Future acquisitions may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business.

Selective acquisitions currently form part of our strategy to further expand our business. If we are presented with appropriate opportunities, we may acquire additional businesses, services or products that are complementary to our core business. Future acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new companies into ours would require significant attention from management. Future acquisitions would also expose us to potential risks, including risks associated with the assimilation of new operations, services and personnel, unforeseen or hidden liabilities, the diversion of resources from our existing businesses and technologies, the inability to generate sufficient revenue to offset the costs and expenses of acquisitions and potential loss of, or harm to, relationships with employees as a result of integration of new businesses. The diversion of our management’s attention and any difficulties encountered in any integration process could have a material adverse effect on our ability to manage our business.

The value of crab meat is subject to fluctuation which may result in volatility of our results of operations and the value of an investment in the Company.

Our business is dependent upon the sale of a commodity which value is subject to fluctuation. Our net sales and operating results vary significantly due to the volatility of the value of the crab meat that we sell which may result in the volatility of the market price of our common stock.

A material decline in the population and biomass of crab meat that we sell in the fisheries from which we obtain our crab meat would materially and adversely affect our business.

The population and biomass of crab meat are subject to natural fluctuations which are beyond our control and which may be exacerbated by disease, reproductive problems or other biological issues and may be affected by changes in weather and the global environment. The overall health of a crab or other fish is difficult to measure, and fisheries management is still a relatively inexact science. Since we are unable to predict the timing and extent of fluctuations in the population and biomass of our products, we are unable to engage in any measures that might alleviate the adverse effects of these fluctuations. Any such fluctuation which results in a material decline in the population and biomass in the fisheries from which we obtain our crab meat would materially and adversely affect our business. Our operations are also subject to the risk of variations in supply.

We are subject to the risk of product contamination and product liability claims.

The sales of our products may involve the risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from tampering by unauthorized personnel, product contamination or spoilage, including the presence of foreign objects, substances, chemicals, or residues introduced during the packing, storage, handling or transportation phases. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, including internal product safety policies, we cannot be sure that consumption of our products will not cause a health-related illness in the future or that we will not be subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or injury could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our brand image.

A significant portion of our revenues are derived from a single product, crab meat, and therefore we are highly susceptible to changes in market demand, which may be affected by factors over which we have limited or no control.

A significant portion of our revenues are derived from a single product, crab meat. We therefore are highly susceptible to changes in market demand, which may be impacted by factors over which we have limited or no control. Factors that could lead to a decline in market demand for crab meat include economic conditions and evolving consumer preferences. A substantial downturn in market demand for crab meat may have a material adverse effect on our business and on our results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Industry and TOBC’s RAS Operations

Regulation of the fishing industry may have an adverse impact on our business.

The international community has been aware of and concerned with the worldwide problem of depletion of natural fish stocks. In the past, these concerns have resulted in the imposition of quotas that subject individual countries to strict limitations on the amount of seafood that is allowed to be caught or harvested. Environmental groups have been lobbying for additional limitations. If international organizations or national governments were to impose additional limitations on crab meat or the seafood products we sell, this could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

Segments of the seafood industry in which we operate are competitive, and our inability to compete successfully could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We compete with major integrated seafood companies such as Tri Union Frozen Products, Inc. (Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods), Phillips Foods, Inc., Harbor Seafood, Inc., and Twin Tails Seafood Corp. in our traditional sustainable seafood business and our primary competitors in our RAS business are Aquabounty, Atlantic Sapphire, Aquacon, Nordic Aquafarms, Whole Oceans, West Coast Salmon and Pure Salmon. Some of our competitors have the benefit of marketing their products under brand names that have better market recognition than ours or have stronger marketing and distribution channels than we do. Increased competition as to any of our products could result in price reduction, reduced margins and loss of market share, which could negatively affect our profitability. An increase in imported products in the United States at low prices could also negatively affect our profitability.

Our insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover losses we may incur or to fully replace a significant loss of assets.

Our involvement in the fishing industry may result in liability for pollution, property damage, personal injury or other hazards. Although we believe we have obtained insurance in accordance with industry standards to address such risks, such insurance has limitations on liability and/or deductible amounts that may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of such liabilities or losses. In addition, such risks may not, in all circumstances, be insurable or, in certain circumstances, we may choose not to obtain insurance to protect against specific risks due to the high premiums associated with such insurance or for other reasons. The payment of such uninsured liabilities would reduce the funds available to us. If we suffer a significant event or occurrence that is not fully insured, or if the insurer of such event is not solvent, we could be required to divert funds from capital investment or other uses towards covering any liability or loss for such events.

Our operations, revenue and profitability could be adversely affected by changes in laws and regulations in the countries where we do business.

The governments of countries into which we sell our products, from time to time, consider regulatory proposals relating to raw materials, food safety and markets, and environmental regulations, which, if adopted, could lead to disruptions in distribution of our products and increase our operational costs, which, in turn, could affect our profitability. To the extent that we increase our product prices as a result of such changes, our sales volume and revenues may be adversely affected.

Furthermore, these governments may change import regulations or impose additional taxes or duties on certain imports from time to time. These regulations and fees or new regulatory developments may have a material adverse impact on our operations, revenue and profitability. If one or more of the countries into which we sell our products bars the import or sale of crab meat or related products, our available market would shrink significantly, adversely impacting our results of operations and growth potential.

A decline in discretionary consumer spending may adversely affect our industry, our operations and ultimately our profitability.

Luxury products, such as premium grade crab meat, are discretionary purchases for consumers. Any reduction in consumer discretionary spending or disposable income may affect the crab meat industry significantly. Many economic factors outside of our control could affect consumer discretionary spending, including the financial markets, consumer credit availability, prevailing interest rates, energy costs, employment levels, salary levels, and tax rates. Any reduction in discretionary consumer spending could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Our business is affected by the quality and quantity of the salmon that is harvested by TOBC.

We sell our products in a highly competitive market. The ability of TOBC to successfully sell its salmon and the price therefor, is highly dependent on the quality of the salmon. A number of factors can negatively affect the quality of the salmon sold, including the quality of the broodstock, water conditions in the farm, the food and additives consumed by the fish, population levels in the tanks, and the amount of time that it takes to bring a fish to harvest, including transportation and processing. Optimal growing conditions cannot always be assured. Although fish grown in RAS production systems are not subject to the disease and parasite issues that can affect salmon grown in ocean pens, there is the potential for organisms that are ubiquitous to freshwater environments to become pathogenic if the fish are subjected to stressful conditions or there is an issue with biomass management.

High standards for the quality of the product are maintained and if we determine that a harvest has not met such standards, we may be required to reduce inventory and write down the value of the harvest to reflect net realizable value. Sub-optimal conditions could lead to smaller harvests and or lower quality fish. Conversely, if we experience better than expected growth rates, we may not be able to process and bring our fish to market in a timely manner, which may result in overcrowding that can cause negative health impacts and/or require culling our fish population.

Furthermore, if our salmon is perceived by the market to be of lower quality than other available sources of salmon or other fish, we may experience reduced demand for our product and may not be able to sell our products at the prices that we expect or at all.

As we continue to expand our operations and build new farms, we potentially may face additional challenges with maintaining the quality of our products. We cannot guarantee that we will not face quality issues in the future, any of which could cause damage to our reputation, and a loss of consumer confidence in our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business results and the value of our brands.

A shutdown, damage to any of our farms, or lack of availability of power, fuel, oxygen, eggs, water, or other key components needed for our operations, could result in our prematurely harvesting fish, a loss of a material percentage of our fish in production, a delay in our commercialization plans, and a material adverse effect on our operations, business results, reputation, and the value of our brands.

An interruption in the power, fuel, oxygen supply, water quality systems, or other critical infrastructure of an aquaculture facility for more than a short period of time could lead to the loss of a large number of fish. A shutdown of or damage to our farm due to natural disaster, shortages of key components to our operations due to a pandemic, reduction in water supply, contamination of our aquifers, interruption in services, or human interference could require us to prematurely harvest some or all of the fish or could result in a loss of our fish in production.

We also are dependent on egg availability. If we had a disruption in our ability to purchase eggs, we would not be able to continue to stock our farm. We cannot guarantee that any disruptions might not occur in the future, any of which could cause loss of salmon to sell, damage to our reputation, loss of consumer confidence in our products and company, and lost revenues, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business results.

The successful development of our TOBC business depends on TOBC’s ability to efficiently and cost-effectively produce and sell salmon at large commercial scale.

Our business plans depend on our ability to increase our production capacity through the development of larger farms. We have limited experience constructing, ramping up, and managing such large, commercial-scale facilities, and we may not have anticipated all of the factors or costs that could affect our production, harvest, sale, and delivery of salmon at such a scale. Our salmon may not perform as expected when raised at very large commercial scale, we may encounter operational challenges, control deficiencies may surface, our vendors may experience capacity constraints, or our production cost and timeline projections may prove to be inaccurate. Any of these could decrease process efficiency, create delays, and increase our costs. We are also subject to volatility in market demand and prices, such as the disruption of the salmon market including reduction in market prices for salmon.

In addition, competitive pressures, customer volatility and the possible inability to secure established and ongoing customer partnerships and contracts, may result in a lack of buyers for our fish. Customers of our fish may not wish to follow our terms and conditions of sale, potentially resulting in a violation of labeling or disclosure laws, improper food handling, nonpayment for product, and similar issues. The competitive landscape for salmon may create challenges in securing competitive pricing for our salmon to reach our competitive goals. In addition, it is possible that we may not be able to service our customers to meet their expectations regarding fish quality, ongoing harvest supply availability, order processing fill rate, on time or correct deliveries, potential issues with third party processors, and other factors, which could impact our relationships with customers, our reputation, and our business results.

Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties

We are dependent on third parties for our operations and our business may be affected by supply chain interruptions and delays.

Our business is dependent upon our relationships with vendors in Southeast Asia and Latin America for co-packing, processing and shipping product to us. If for any reason these companies became unable or unwilling to continue to provide services to us, this would likely lead to a temporary interruption in our ability to import our products until we found another entity that could provide these services. Moreover, if supply chain delays occur, our product will arrive late which will adversely impact our revenue. Failure to find a suitable replacement, even on a temporary basis, would have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

We do not have long-term agreements with many of our customers and suppliers.

Many of our customers and suppliers operate through purchase orders. Though we have long-term business relationships with many of our customers and suppliers and alternative sources of supply for key items, we do not have long-term agreements with such customers and suppliers and cannot be sure that any of these customers or suppliers will continue to do business with us on the same basis or on terms that are favorable to us. The termination or modification of any of these relationships may adversely affect our business, financial performance and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements

Our independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern in its report on our audited financial statements.

The report from our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes an explanatory paragraph stating that the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to increase revenues, execute on its business plan to acquire complimentary companies, raise capital and continue to sustain adequate working capital to finance its operations. If we are unable to do so, our financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected and we may be unable to continue as a going concern.

We may need to raise additional capital to fund our existing commercial operations and develop and commercialize new products and expand our operations.

If our available cash balances, net proceeds from an offering and anticipated cash flow from operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements including because of lower demand for our products or due to other risks described herein, we may seek to sell common stock or preferred stock or convertible debt securities, enter into an additional credit facility or another form of third-party funding or seek other debt financing.

We may consider raising additional capital in the future to expand our business, to pursue strategic investments, to take advantage of financing opportunities or for other reasons, including to:

Our present and future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:

The various ways we could raise additional capital carry potential risks. If we raise funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to our stockholders could result. Any equity securities issued also could provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, those debt securities would have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. The terms of debt securities issued or borrowings pursuant to a credit agreement could impose significant restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, we might be required to relinquish significant rights or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.

We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company and our management devotes substantial time to public company compliance.

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses due to our compliance with regulations and disclosure obligations applicable to us, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) as well as rules implemented by the SEC, and the OTC Markets. Stockholder activism, the current political environment and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact, in ways we cannot currently anticipate, the manner in which we operate our business. Our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to monitoring of and compliance with, public company reporting obligations. These rules and regulations cause us to incur significant legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming and costly.

To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, including implementing internal controls and procedures. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information disclosed to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls could harm our operating results, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in a restatement of prior period financial statements. In the event that we are not able to demonstrate compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that our internal control over financial reporting is perceived as inadequate or that we are unable to produce timely or accurate financial statements, investors may lose confidence in our operating results and the price of our common stock could decline. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, our common stock may not be able to continue to meet the eligibility requirements for the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the later of our second annual report or the first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act depending on whether we choose to rely on certain exemptions set forth in the JOBS Act. If we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could harm our business.

Risks Related to Administrative, Organizational and Commercial Operations and Growth

We may be unable to manage our future growth effectively, which could make it difficult to execute our business strategy.

We anticipate growth in our business operations. This future growth could create a strain on our organizational, administrative and operational infrastructure, including manufacturing operations, quality control, technical support and customer service, sales force management and general and financial administration. Our ability to manage our growth properly will require us to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, as well as our reporting systems and procedures. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations.

If we are unable to support demand for our current and our future products, including ensuring that we have adequate resources to meet increased demand and mitigate any supply chain delays our business could be harmed.

As our commercial operations and sales volume grow, we will need to continue to increase our workflow capacity for processing, customer service, billing and general process improvements and expand our internal quality assurance program, and mitigate any supply chain delays we could have with our vendors, among other things. We may also need to purchase additional equipment and increase our manufacturing, maintenance, software and computing capacity to meet increased demand. We cannot assure you that any of these increases in scale, expansion of personnel, purchase of equipment or process enhancements will be successfully implemented.

The loss of our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or our inability to attract and retain highly skilled officers and key personnel could negatively impact our business.

Our success depends on the skills, experience and performance of John Keeler, our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The individual and collective efforts of such individual will be important as we continue to develop and expand our commercial activities. The loss or incapacity of Mr. Keeler could negatively impact our operations if we experience difficulties in hiring qualified successors. Qualified employees periodically are in great demand and may be unavailable in the time frame required to satisfy our customers’ requirements. Expansion of our business could require us to employ additional personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract and retain sufficient numbers of skilled employees in the future. The loss of personnel or our inability to hire or retain sufficient personnel at competitive rates could impair the growth of our business.

If we were sued for product liability or professional liability, we could face substantial liabilities that exceed our resources.

The marketing and sale of our products could lead to the filing of product liability claims alleging that our product made users ill. A product liability claim could result in substantial damages and be costly and time-consuming for us to defend.

We maintain product liability insurance, but this insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending against product liability claims. Any product liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our insurance rates or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future. Additionally, any product liability lawsuit could lead to regulatory investigations, product recalls or withdrawals, damage our reputation or cause current vendors, suppliers and customers to terminate existing agreements and potential customers and partners to seek other suppliers, any of which could negatively impact our results of operations.

We face risks associated with our international business.

Our international business operations are subject to a variety of risks, including:

If we expand into other target markets, we cannot assure you that our expansion plans will be realized, or if realized, be successful. We expect each market to have particular regulatory and funding hurdles to overcome and future developments in these markets, including the uncertainty relating to governmental policies and regulations, could harm our business. If we expend significant time and resources on expansion plans that fail or are delayed, our reputation, business and financial condition may be harmed.

Our results may be impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Currently, the majority of our international sales contracts are denominated in U.S. dollars. We pay certain of our suppliers in a foreign currency. As a result, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could require us to reduce our selling price or risk making our product less competitive in international markets or our costs could increase. Also, if our international sales increase, we may enter into a greater number of transactions denominated in non-U.S. dollars, which could expose us to foreign currency risks, including changes in currency exchange rates.

A larger portion of our revenues may be denominated in other foreign currencies if we expand our international operations. Conducting business in currencies other than U.S. dollars subjects us to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could have a negative impact on our operating results. Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies impact our revenues, cost of revenues and operating margins and result in foreign currency translation gains and losses.

We could be negatively impacted by violations of applicable anti-corruption laws or violations of our internal policies designed to ensure ethical business practices.

We operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including in countries that do not have as strong a commitment to anti-corruption and ethical behavior that is required by U.S. laws or by corporate policies. We are subject to the risk that we, our U.S. employees or our employees located in other jurisdictions or any third parties that we engage to do work on our behalf in foreign countries may take action determined to be in violation of anti-corruption laws in any jurisdiction in which we conduct business. Any violation of anti-corruption laws or regulations could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties and curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions and might harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. Further, detecting, investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management.

We depend on our information technology systems, and any failure of these systems could harm our business.

We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems for significant elements of our operations. We have developed propriety software for the management and operation of our business. We have installed and expect to expand a number of enterprise software systems that affect a broad range of business processes and functional areas, including for example, systems handling human resources, financial controls and reporting, contract management, regulatory compliance and other infrastructure operations.

Information technology and telecommunications systems are vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. Despite the precautionary measures we have taken to prevent unanticipated problems that could affect our information technology and telecommunications systems, failures or significant downtime of our information technology or telecommunications systems or those used by our third-party service providers could prevent us from providing support services and product to our customers and managing the administrative aspects of our business. Any disruption or loss of information technology or telecommunications systems on which critical aspects of our operations depend could harm our business.

The operation of our planned digital banking platform may subject us to costs and risks associated with various laws and regulations, including those relating to data privacy, security and protection. Developments in these and other laws and regulations could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our operations are vulnerable to interruption or loss due to natural or other disasters, power loss, strikes and other events beyond our control.

We conduct a significant portion of our activities, including administration and data processing, at facilities located in Southern Florida that have experienced major hurricanes and floods which could affect our facilities, significantly disrupt our operations, and delay or prevent product shipment during the time required to repair, rebuild or replace damaged processing facilities. Our suppliers in Southeast Asia and Latin America are also vulnerable to natural disasters which could disrupt their operations and their ability to supply product to us. If any of our customers’ facilities are negatively impacted by a disaster, product shipments could be delayed. Additionally, customers may delay purchases of products until operations return to normal. Even if we and/or our suppliers are able to quickly respond to a disaster, the ongoing effects of the disaster could create some uncertainty in the operations of our business. In addition, our facilities may be subject to a shortage of available electrical power and other energy supplies. Any shortages may increase our costs for power and energy supplies or could result in blackouts, which could disrupt the operations of our affected facilities and harm our business.

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability to adequately protect, or uncertainty regarding validity, enforceability or scope of them could undermine our competitive position and reduce the value of our products, services and brand, and litigation to protect our intellectual property rights may be costly.

We attempt to strengthen and differentiate our product portfolio by developing new and innovative products and product improvements. As a result, our patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and other intellectual property rights are important assets to us. Various events outside of our control pose a threat to our intellectual property rights as well as to our products and services. For example, effective intellectual property protection may not be available in countries in which our products are sold. Also, although we have registered our trademark in various jurisdictions, our efforts to protect our proprietary rights may not be sufficient or effective. Any significant impairment of our intellectual property rights could harm our business or our ability to compete. Litigation might be necessary to protect our intellectual property rights and any such litigation may be costly and may divert our management’s attention from our core business. An adverse determination in any lawsuit involving our intellectual property is likely to jeopardize our business prospects and reputation. Although we are not aware of any of such litigation, we have no insurance coverage against litigation costs, and we would be forced to bear all litigation costs if we cannot recover them from other parties. All foregoing factors could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any unauthorized use of our intellectual property could harm our operating results.

We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if determined against us, could adversely affect our business and subject us to significant liability to third parties.

Our success mainly depends on our ability to use and develop our technology and product designs without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of third parties. We may be subject to litigation involving claims of patent infringement or violations of other intellectual property rights of third parties. Holders of patents and other intellectual property rights potentially relevant to our product offerings may be unknown to us, which may make it difficult for us to acquire a license on commercially acceptable terms. There may also be technologies licensed to us and that we rely upon that are subject to infringement or other corresponding allegations or claims by third parties which may damage our ability to rely on such technologies. In addition, we cannot fully avoid the risks of intellectual property rights infringement created by suppliers of components used in our products or by companies we work with in cooperative research and development activities. Our current or potential competitors may obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products. The defense of intellectual property claims, including patent infringement suits, and related legal and administrative proceedings can be both costly and time consuming, and may significantly divert the efforts and resources of our technical personnel and management. These factors could effectively prevent us from pursuing some or all of our business operations and result in our customers or potential customers deferring, canceling or limiting their purchase or use of our products, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our commercial success will depend in part on our success in obtaining and maintaining issued patents and other intellectual property rights in the United States and elsewhere. If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property, competitors may be able to use our processes and erode or negate any competitive advantage we may have, which could harm our business.

We cannot provide any assurances that any of our patents have, or that any of our pending patent applications that mature into issued patents will include, claims with a scope sufficient to protect our products, any additional features we develop or any new products. Patents, if issued, may be challenged, deemed unenforceable, invalidated or circumvented.

Furthermore, though an issued patent is presumed valid and enforceable, its issuance is not conclusive as to its validity or its enforceability and it may not provide us with adequate proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products. Competitors may also be able to design around our patents. Other parties may develop and obtain patent protection for more effective technologies, designs or methods. We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our knowledge or trade secrets by consultants, suppliers, vendors, former employees and current employees. The laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and we may encounter significant problems in protecting our proprietary rights in these countries. If any of these developments were to occur, they each could have a negative impact on our sales.

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position could be harmed.

We rely upon copyright and trade secret protection, as well as non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties, to protect our confidential and proprietary information. In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not, for example, in the case of misappropriation of a trade secret by an employee or third party with authorized access, provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. Our security measures may not prevent an employee or consultant from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, and recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.

We may not be able to enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

The laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement or the misappropriation of our intellectual property rights. Many foreign countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against third parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, patents may provide limited or no benefit. Patent protection must ultimately be sought on a country-by-country basis, which is an expensive and time-consuming process with uncertain outcomes. Accordingly, we may choose not to seek patent protection in certain countries, and we will not have the benefit of patent protection in such countries.

Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts from other aspects of our business. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate. In addition, changes in the law and legal decisions by courts in the United States and foreign countries may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection for our technology and the enforcement of intellectual property.

Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.

Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.

Risks Related to Regulatory Matters

Our products and operations are subject to government regulation and oversight both in the United States and abroad, and our failure to comply with applicable requirements could harm our business.

The FDA and other government agencies, among other things, with respect to our products and operations regulate the design, development and manufacturing; testing, labeling, content and language of instructions for use and storage; product safety; marketing, sales and distribution; recordkeeping procedures; advertising and promotion; recalls and corrective actions; and product import and export.

The regulations to which we are subject are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. Regulatory changes could result in restrictions on our ability to carry on or expand our operations, higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales.

The failure to comply with applicable regulations could jeopardize our ability to sell our products and result in enforcement actions such as waning letters; fines; injunctions; civil penalties; termination of distribution; recalls or seizures of products; delays in the introduction o products into the market; and total or partial suspension of production.

We may also be required to take corrective actions, such as installing additional equipment or taking other actions, each of which could require us to make substantial capital expenditures. We could also be required to indemnify our employees in connection with any expenses or liabilities that they may incur individually in connection with regulatory action against them. As a result, our future business prospects could deteriorate due to regulatory constraints, and our profitability could be impaired by our obligation to provide such indemnification to our employees. Any of these sanctions could result in higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales and harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our business, be expensive to defend and result in sizeable damage awards against us that may not be covered by insurance.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock may be volatile and may be influenced by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control.

Factors that could cause volatility in the market price of our common stock include:

The broad market fluctuations in the stock markets may negatively impact the price or liquidity of our common stock. In the past, when the price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the issuer. If any of our stockholders were to bring such a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit and the attention of our management would be diverted from the operation of our business.

You may experience dilution of your ownership interests because of the future issuance of additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our common stock or preferred stock.

If our existing stockholders exercise warrants or sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the price of our common stock could decline. The perception in the market that these sales may occur could also cause the price of our common stock to decline.

In the future, we may issue authorized but previously unissued equity securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of the then current stockholders. We are authorized to issue an aggregate of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock. We may issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our common stock in connection with hiring or retaining employees, future acquisitions, future sales of our securities for capital raising purposes, or for other business purposes. The future issuance of any such additional shares of our common stock may create downward pressure on the trading price of the common stock. We may need to raise additional capital in the near future to meet our working capital needs, and there can be no assurance that we will not be required to issue additional shares, warrants or other convertible securities in the future in conjunction with the capital raising efforts, including at a price (or exercise prices) below the price you paid for your stock.

Management may have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from offerings of its securities and may not use the proceeds effectively.

Because the Company may not designate the amount of net proceeds from offerings to be used for any particular purpose, management may have broad discretion as to the application of the net proceeds and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of such offering. Management may use net proceeds for corporate purposes that may not improve the Company’s financial condition or market value.

If we fail to comply with the NASDAQ Capital Market listing requirements, we will be subject to potential delisting from the NASDAQ Capital Market.

Our common stock is currently traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BSFC.” However, if we fail to comply with NASDAQ’s rules for continued listing, including, minimum market capitalization, bid price and other requirements, NASDAQ may take steps to delist our shares. Failure to maintain our listing, or de-listing from NASDAQ, would make it more difficult for shareholders to sell our common stock and more difficult to obtain accurate price quotations on our common stock. This could have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Our ability to issue additional securities for financing or other purposes, or otherwise to arrange for any financing we may need in the future, may also be materially and adversely affected if our common stock is not traded on a national securities exchange. Additionally, loan or other agreements, may contain covenants to maintain the listing of our common stock on NASDAQ. Accordingly, failure to maintain such listing may constitute a default under such agreements.

We are not in compliance with the NASDAQ Capital Market $1.00 minimum bid price requirement and the $2,500,000 stockholder’s equity minimum requirement which could result in delisting and adversely affect the market price and liquidity of our common stock.

On September 26, 2023, we received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) notifying the Company that, based upon the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days, the Company was not in compliance with the requirement to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for continued listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market, as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Requirement”).

We were provided a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until March 25, 2024, to regain compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). If at any time before March 25, 2024, the closing bid price of our common stock closes at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days, NASDAQ will provide written notification that the Company has achieved compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement and the matter would be resolved. On March 26, 2024, we received a letter from NASDAQ stating the Company had not regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement and is not eligible for a second 180-day period because it is not in compliance with NASDAQ’s $5,000,000 minimum stockholders’ equity initial listing requirement.

The Company intends to present a written compliance plan to the NASDAQ hearings panel by April 2, 2024 (which will stay further action by NASDAQ until the Panel’s final determination) for its consideration of continued listing of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

The Company was notified on November 27, 2023 by NASDAQ that it no longer complied with the minimum $2,500,000 stockholders’ equity required for continued listing on NASDAQ. The Company is subject to a Mandatory Panel Monitor for a period of one year, or until October 16, 2024. On December 4, 2023, the Company was granted a hearing with NASDAQ’s hearings panel, which was scheduled for March 5, 2024. On March 22, 2024, the NASDAQ hearings panel notified the Company that it had granted the request of the Company to continue its listing on NASDAQ until May 15, 2024, subject to on or before April 1, 2024, the Company filing its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and filing its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 by May 15, 2024.

If our common stock were to be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market, trading of our common stock most likely will be conducted in the over-the-counter market on an electronic bulletin board established for unlisted securities such as the OTC Markets or in the “pink sheets.” Such a downgrading in our listing market may limit our ability to make a market in our common stock and may impact purchases or sales of our securities.

Our common stock may be deemed a “penny stock” which may reduce the value of an investment in the stock.

Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require: (a) that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks; and (b) the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.

In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must: (a) obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person and (b) make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form: (a) sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and (b) confirms that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction. Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the “penny stock” rules. If our common stock is or becomes subject to the “penny stock” rules, it may be more difficult for investors to dispose of our common stock and cause a decline in the market value of our common stock.

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about commissions payable to both the broker or dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

The sales practice requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (“FINRA”) may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our common stock.

FINRA has adopted rules requiring that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative or low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA has indicated its belief that there is a high probability that speculative or low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. If these FINRA requirements are applicable to us or our securities, they may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that at least some of their customers buy our common stock, which may limit the ability of our stockholders to buy and sell our common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market for and price of our common stock.

Our operating results for a particular period may fluctuate significantly or may fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, each of which may cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate or decline.

We expect our operating results to be subject to fluctuations. Our operating results will be affected by numerous factors, including variations in the level of expenses related to future development plans; fluctuations in value of the underlying commodity; inability to procure sufficient quantities to meet demand due to the scarcity of the product available from its suppliers; level of underlying demand for our products and any other products we sell; any intellectual property infringement lawsuit or opposition, interference or cancellation proceeding in which we may become involved and regulatory developments affecting us or our competitors.

If our operating results for a particular period fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Furthermore, any fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially. We believe that comparisons of our financial results from various reporting periods are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance.

Because we became a reporting company under the Exchange Act by means other than a traditional underwritten initial public offering, we may not be able to attract the attention of research analysts at major brokerage firms.

Because we did not become a reporting company by conducting an underwritten initial public offering of our common stock, and because we will not be listed on a national securities exchange, securities analysts of brokerage firms may not provide coverage of our Company. In addition, investment banks may be less likely to agree to underwrite secondary offerings on our behalf than they might if we became a public reporting company by means of an underwritten initial public offering, because they may be less familiar with our company as a result of more limited coverage by analysts and the media, and because we became public at an early stage in our development. The failure to receive research coverage or support in the market for our shares will have an adverse effect on our ability to develop a liquid market for our common stock.

Because the Merger was a reverse merger, certain SEC rules may be more restrictive.

Additional risks may exist as a result of our becoming a public reporting company through a “reverse merger”. Certain SEC rules are more restrictive when applied to reverse merger companies, such as the ability of stockholders to re-sell their shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144.

Historically, the SEC has taken the position that Rule 144 under the Securities Act is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by companies that are, or previously were, blank check companies, to their promoters or affiliates despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144. The SEC has codified and expanded this position in its amendments effective on February 15, 2008, which applies to securities acquired both before and after that date by prohibiting the use of Rule 144 for resale of securities issued by shell companies (other than business transaction related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. The SEC has provided an important exception to this prohibition, however, if the following conditions are met:

In addition, for proposed sales under Rule 144, there must be adequate current information about the issuing company publicly available before the sale can be made. For reporting companies, this generally means that the companies have complied with the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. As such, due to the fact that we were a shell company until the effective time of the reverse merger, holders of “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 will be subject to the above conditions.

Issuance of stock to fund our operations may dilute your investment and reduce your equity interest.

We may need to raise capital in the future to fund the development of our seafood business. Any equity financing may have significant dilutive effect to stockholders and a material decrease in our stockholders’ equity interest in us. Equity financing, if obtained, could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders. At its sole discretion, our board of directors may issue additional securities without seeking stockholder approval, and we do not know when we will need additional capital or, if we do, whether it will be available to us.

Provisions of our charter documents or Delaware law could delay or prevent an acquisition of the Company, even if such an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, which could make it more difficult for you to change management.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempt by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult to replace or remove our board of directors.

In addition, Delaware law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person who, together with its affiliates, owns, or within the last three years has owned, 15% or more of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the company. Furthermore, our certificate of incorporation will specify that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for most legal actions involving actions brought against us by stockholders. We believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law by chancellors particularly experienced in resolving corporate disputes, efficient administration of cases on a more expedited schedule relative to other forums and protection against the burdens of multi-forum litigation. However, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with any applicable action brought against us, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action.

We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future therefore capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. In addition, our current loan and security agreement with Lighthouse contains, and our future loan arrangements, if any, may contain, terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our common stock. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

We could face significant penalties for our failure to comply with the terms of our outstanding convertible notes.

Our convertible notes contain positive and negative covenants and customary events of default including requiring us in many cases to timely file SEC reports. In the event we fail to timely file our SEC reports in the future, or any other events of defaults occur under the notes, we could face significant penalties and/or liquidated damages and/or the conversion price of such notes could be adjusted downward significantly, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, or cause any investment in the Company to decline in value or become worthless.

Certain of our outstanding convertible promissory notes include favored nations rights which if triggered could result in, among other things, favorable treatment to such noteholders and dilution to existing shareholders.

Certain of our outstanding convertible promissory notes include provisions which provide that, so long as such notes are outstanding, the Company shall not enter into any public or private offering of its securities (including securities convertible into shares of our common stock) with any individual or entity that has the effect of establishing rights or otherwise benefiting such other investor in a manner more favorable in any material respect to such other investor than the rights and benefits established in favor of the holder of our convertible notes unless, in any such case, the holder has been provided with such rights and benefits pursuant to a definitive written agreement or agreements between the Company and the holder. Such favored nations provisions could be triggered in the future and could materially change the terms of the notes. In the event any favored nations provisions of the notes are triggered, it may cause the terms of such notes to be materially amended in favor of the holders thereof, cause significant dilution to existing shareholders, and otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this Item.

ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY

The Company engages a third-party provider to maintain our systems and management participates in the assessment to identify any risks from cybersecurity threats. Our third-party provider monitors our firewall, network, system security and internal and external backups and reports any issues to the Company.

The Company’s Board, together with management, is engaged in our cybersecurity monitoring managed by our third-party provider and it is constantly changing. Any issues are appropriately addressed timely.

To date, we have not experienced any cybersecurity incidents that materially affected our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company’s executive offices and warehouse facility are based in Miami, Florida. On January 1, 2022, the Company entered into a verbal month-to-month lease agreement for 4,756 square feet of its executive offices with an unrelated third party, for monthly rent of $5,800. The Company has paid $69,900 to date under this lease.

Coastal Pride leased an aggregate of 1,600 square feet of office space in Beaufort, South Carolina under two leases for $1,255 and $750 per month. On October 1, 2023, both leases were terminated and Coastal Pride entered into a new one-year office lease for 1,100 square feet for $1,000 per month.

Coastal Pride also leased a 9,050 square foot facility for $1,000 per month from Gault for its soft-shell crab operations in Beaufort, South Carolina under a one-year lease that expired in February 2023. On February 3, 2023, the lease was renewed for $1,500 per month until February 2024. On February 3, 2024, Coastal Pride entered into a verbal month-to-month lease agreement with Gault for $1,500 per month.

The offices and facility of TOBC are located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada and are on land which was leased to TOBC for approximately $2,500 per month plus taxes, from Steve and Janet Atkinson, the former TOBC owners. On April 1, 2022, TOBC entered into a new five-year lease with Steve and Janet Atkinson for CAD$2,590 per month plus taxes, and an additional five-year lease with Kathryn Atkinson for CAD$2,370 per month plus. Both leases are renewable for two additional five-year terms.

We currently believe these spaces will be adequate for our immediate and near-term needs.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or in which any director, officer or affiliate of ours, any owner of record or beneficially of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or security holder is a party adverse to us or has a material interest adverse to us.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BSFC”.

The last reported sales price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market on March 29, 2024 was $0.09.

Holders

As of March 29, 2024, the Company had 77 stockholders of record.

Lock-up Agreements

In connection with the Merger, holders of 787,500 shares of common stock were prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from disposing of or hedging any shares of common stock or securities convertible or exercisable for shares of common stock during an 18-month period for Restricted Holders and 12-month period for Pre-Merger Holders, after the Merger in excess of 50% of all of the common stock held by (or issuable to) them and at a price below $44.00 per share. Thereafter, neither Restricted Holders or Pre-Merger Holders may sell, dispose or otherwise transfer more than one-third of the common stock held by such Holder in any two-month period.

Dividends

We have not paid any dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. At present, our policy is to retain earnings, if any, to develop and market our products and implement our business plan. The payment of dividends in the future will depend upon, among other factors, our earnings, capital requirements, and operating financial conditions.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

Except as set forth below, there were no sales of equity securities during the period covered by this Report that were not registered under the Securities Act and were not previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company.

In January 2023, the Company sold an aggregate of 23,705 shares of common stock for net proceeds of $182,982 in an “at the market” offering pursuant to a sales agreement between the Company and Roth Capital Partners, LLC (“Roth”). On January 31, 2023, 7,564 of shares were repurchased from Roth for $76,323. The offering was terminated on February 2, 2023.

On August 22, 2023, the Company issued 200,000 shares of common stock to Mark Crone for consulting services to be provided to the Company starting on January 1, 2024.

On December 31, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,958,333 shares of common stock to John Keeler’s designee in lieu of payment of $570,000 of the principal amount of outstanding promissory notes held by Mr. Keeler.

On December 31, 2023, the Company issued 173,611 shares of common stock to each of Silvia Alana, Nubar Herian and John Keeler, 277,778 shares of common stock to each of Timothy McLellan and Trond Ringstad, 101,273 shares of common stock to Juan Carlos Dalto and 399,306 shares of common stock to Jeffrey Guzy with a total fair value of $227,083 for serving as directors of the Company.

On December 31, 2023, the Company issued 1,736,111 shares of common stock to Walter Lubkin Jr. in lieu of $250,000 of outstanding principal payment under promissory notes issued by the Company in connection with the Coastal Pride acquisition.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 239,229 shares of common stock to the designee of ClearThink for consulting services provided to the Company.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,380,585 shares of common stock for cash proceeds of $343,849 pursuant to a securities purchase agreement, dated May 16, 2023 with ClearThink. In connection with such agreement, the Company also issued 62,500 shares of common stock to ClearThink as commitment fees, with a fair value of $141,250, which was recorded as stock issuance costs.

On January 23, 2024 and February 1, 2024, the Company issued 76,388 and 82,706 shares of common stock, respectively, to the designee of ClearThink for consulting services provided to the Company.

On January 25, 2024, the Company issued 354,610 shares of common stock to ClearThink as a commitment fee.

The above issuances did not involve any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering and we believe are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

None.

ITEM 6. RESERVED

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to those statements appearing in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this prospectus.

Overview

We are an international seafood company that imports, packages and sells refrigerated pasteurized crab meat, and other premium seafood products. Our current source of revenue is from importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Indonesia, the Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States and Canada under several brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika, Crab & Go, First Choice, Good Stuff and Coastal Pride Fresh, and steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings produced under the brand name Little Cedar Farms for distribution in Canada. The crab meat which we import is processed in six out of the ten plants available throughout Southeast Asia. Our suppliers are primarily via co-packing relationships, including two affiliated suppliers. We sell primarily to food service distributors. We also sell our products to wholesalers, retail establishments and seafood distributors.

Recent Developments

NASDAQ Compliance

On September 26, 2023, the Company received a letter from NASDAQ notifying the Company that based upon the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days, the Company was not in compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement on The NASDAQ Capital Market, as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) . The Company was provided a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until March 24, 2024, to regain compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). If at any time before March 24, 2024, the closing bid price of our common stock closed at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days, NASDAQ will provide written notification that the Company has achieved compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement and the matter would be resolved. On March 26, 2024, we received a letter from NASDAQ stating the Company had not regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement and is not eligible for a second 180-day period because it is not in compliance with NASDAQ’s $5,000,000 minimum stockholders’ equity initial listing requirement. The Company intends to present a written compliance plan to the NASDAQ hearings panel by April 2, 2024 (which will stay further action by NASDAQ) for its consideration of continued listing of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

Minimum Stockholder’s Equity

The Company was notified on November 27, 2023 by NASDAQ that it no longer complied with the minimum $2,500,000 stockholders’ equity required for continued listing on NASDAQ. The Company is subject to a Mandatory Panel Monitor for a period of one year, or until October 16, 2024. On December 4, 2023, the Company was granted a hearing with NASDAQ’s hearings panel, which was scheduled for March 5, 2024. On March 22, 2024, the NASDAQ hearings panel notified the Company that it had granted the request of the Company to continue its listing on NASDAQ until May 15, 2024, subject to on or before April 1, 2024, the Company filing its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and filing its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 by May 15, 2024.

Afritex Agreements

On February 1, 2024, the Company entered into a ninety-day Master Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with Afritex Ventures, Inc. a Texas corporation (“Afritex”), pursuant to which the Company will be responsible for all of Afritex’s operations and finance functions. The Company will provide Afritex with working capital in order to sustain operations and will purchase certain inventory listed in the Services Agreement. In consideration for its services, during the term of the Services Agreement, the Company will be entitled to all of the revenue and profits earned by Afritex. Under the Services Agreement, Afritex may not sell or otherwise use as consideration any of its intellectual property without the Company’s consent. The Company must maintain certain commercial liability insurance during the term of the Services Agreement. The Services Agreement also provides that the Company may not solicit Afritex employees for 24 months nor circumvent existing business relationships of Afritex for three years, after the term of the Services Agreement. The term of the Services Agreement will automatically extend for three thirty-day periods, if Afritex’s outstanding debt is no greater than $325,000.

In connection with the Services Agreement, on February 12, 2024, the Company entered into an Intangibles Assets and Machinery Option To Purchase Agreement with Afritex (the “Option Agreement”). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company has the option to purchase Afritex’s intangible assets, machinery and equipment set forth in the Option Agreement for a purchase price of $554,714 for machinery and equipment and 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued on February 12, 2024 to be held in escrow, for intangible assets. In addition, for one year from the date of the Option Agreement, Afritex has an option to purchase up to $1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a 10% discount to the lowest volume-weighted average price in the immediately prior five days. The sale of any shares acquired by Afritex under the Option Agreement are subject to a “leak-out” provision as set forth in the Option Agreement. The closing of the Option Agreement is subject to, among other things, the successful restructuring of Afritex’s accounts payable debts so that no individual debt of $85,000 or aggregate debt of more than $325,000 is outstanding. The Option Agreement may be terminated if, among others, the closing has not has not occurred within 90 days, unless extended for two additional 30-day periods at the Company’s sole discretion. To date, the Company has not exercised its option to purchase such intangibles assets, machinery and equipment.

ClearThink Term Loan

On January 18, 2024, the Company entered into the Revenue-Based Factoring MCA Plus Agreement with ClearThink which provides, among other things, for a 33-week term loan in the principal amount of $200,000 (with an additional one-time commitment fee of $50,000). Interest accrues at the rate of 25% per annum with an additional 5% default interest rate in the event of circumstances described in the agreement or $50,000 will be added to the principal amount and accrue after principal is paid. The Company is required to make biweekly payments of $14,706, commencing February 1, 2024 for the term of the Agreement. On January 25, 2024, the Company issued 354,610 shares of common stock to ClearThink as a commitment fee.

Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company is based upon, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited financial statements and related notes elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Year Ended December 31, 2023 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2022

Net Sales. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased 52.0% to $6,124,529 as compared to $12,767,145 for the year ended December 31, 2022 as a result of a decrease in poundage sold during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased to $5,966,452 as compared to $13,419,133 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease is attributable to the decrease in poundage sold in the cost of goods.

Gross Profit (Loss). Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023 is $158,077 as compared to gross loss of $651,988 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is attributable to higher market prices and lower cost of goods sold in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2022.

Gross Profit (Loss) Margin. Gross profit margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 is 2.6% as compared to gross loss margin of 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is attributable to higher market prices and lower cost of goods sold in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2022.

Commissions Expenses. Commissions expenses decreased to $2,169 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $24,482 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease is attributable to lower commissionable revenues.

Salaries and Wages Expense. Salaries and wages decreased to $1,858,004 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $2,032,457 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease is primarily attributable to a strategic reduction in salaries for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $4,521 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $584,386 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease is attributable to lower depreciation due to the impairment of fixed assets and intangible assets in the year ended December 31, 2022.

Impairment Loss. Impairment loss decreased to $0 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $5,797,906 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease is attributable to the impairment recognized on TOBC for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Other Operating Expense. Other operating expenses increased 0.1% to $2,525,661 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $2,522,764 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is mainly attributable to an increase in legal and professional fees related to our business operations.

Other Income. Other income decreased to $12,708 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $154,196 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease is primarily attributable to lower collections received by Coastal Pride from previously written off receivables.

Loss on Conversion of Debt. Loss on conversion of debt increased to $977,188 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $57,085 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is attributable to the additional payments made to Lind by the issuance of common stock due to a decrease in the Repayment Share Price.

Change in Fair Value of Derivatives and Warrants Liabilities. Change in fair value of derivatives and warrants liabilities increased to $2,497,088 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $0 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is attributable to the 2023 Lind notes embedded conversion feature due to the variable conversion price on the agreements.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased to $1,771,942 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $1,678,097 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is mainly attributable to the amortization of the Lind convertible debt discount.

Net Loss. The Company had a net loss of $4,471,612 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to a net loss of $13,194,969 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in net loss is primarily attributable to decreases in salaries and wages, decreases in depreciation and amortization, recognition of impairment losses for TOBC and Coastal Pride in 2022 that no longer applied in 2023 and decreases of other expenses of legal and professional fees.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company had cash of $24,163 as of December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2023, the Company had a working capital surplus of $899,215, including $165,620 in stockholder loans that were subordinated to its working capital line of credit, as compared to a working capital deficit of $3,013,281 at December 31, 2022, including $893,000 in stockholder loans. The Company’s primary sources of liquidity consisted of inventory of $2,608,521 and accounts receivable of $534,195 at December 31, 2023. The increase in working capital was due primarily to decreases of inventory of $2,023,631 and accounts receivable of $270,881 netted against the decreases in the working capital line of credit of $1,776,068 and maturities of short-term debt of $3,439,557.

The Company has historically financed its operations through the cash flow generated from operations, loans from stockholders and other related parties as well as a working capital line of credit and the sale of equity in private offerings.

Cash (Used in) Operating Activities. Cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was $3,530,662 as compared to cash used in operating activities of $3,618,811 for the year ended December 31, 2022, representing a decrease of $88,149. The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in inventory of $5,455,560 netted against the decreases in deferred income of $62,336, accounts receivable netted against other current assets of $3,036,916 and decrease in payables netted against other current liabilities of $2,094,395 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Cash (Used in) Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $159,609 as compared to $695,275 cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was a result of no acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the acquisition of the soft-shell crab operations by Coastal Pride for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $3,676,355 as compared to cash provided by financing activities of $3,075,400 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase is mainly attributable to in the private placement offering completed in September 2023.

Working Capital Line of Credit

On March 31, 2021, Keeler & Co. and Coastal Pride entered into a loan and security agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with Lighthouse. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, Lighthouse made available to Keeler & Co. and Coastal Pride (together, the “Borrowers”) a $5,000,000 revolving line of credit for a term of thirty-six months, renewable annually for one-year periods thereafter. Amounts due under the line of credit are represented by a revolving credit note issued to Lighthouse by the Borrowers.

The advance rate of the revolving line of credit was 85% with respect to eligible accounts receivable and the lower of 60% of the Borrowers’ eligible inventory, or 80% of the net orderly liquidation value, subject to an inventory sublimit of $2,500,000. The inventory portion of the loan will never exceed 50% of the outstanding balance. Interest on the line of credit is the prime rate (with a floor of 3.25%), plus 3.75%. The Borrowers paid Lighthouse a facility fee of $50,000 in three instalments of $16,667 in March, April and May 2021 and paid an additional facility fee of $25,000 on March 31, 2022. In an effort to increase imports to meet customer demand, on January 14, 2022, the maximum inventory advance under the line of credit was adjusted from 50% to 70% until June 30, 2022, 65% until July 31, 2022, 60% until August 31, 2022, 55% until September 30, 2022, at a monthly fee of 0.25% on the portion of the loan in excess of the 50% advance. On July 29, 2022, the Loan Agreement was further amended to set the annual interest rate on the outstanding principal amount at 4.75% above the prime rate and to reduce the monthly required cash flow requirements beginning July 31, 2022. The amendment also updated the maximum inventory advance under the line of credit to 60% from August 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 and 50% thereafter.

The line of credit was secured by a first priority security interest on all the assets of each Borrower. Pursuant to the terms of a guaranty agreement, the Company guaranteed the obligations of the Borrowers under the note and John Keeler, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, provided a personal guaranty of up to $1,000,000 to Lighthouse.

On June 16, 2023, the Company terminated the Loan Agreement and paid an aggregate of approximately $108,400 to Lighthouse which included, as of June 16, 2023, an outstanding principal balance of approximately $93,400, accrued interest of approximately $9,900, and other fees incurred in connection with the line of credit of approximately $4,991. Upon the repayment of the total outstanding indebtedness owing to Lighthouse, the Loan Agreement and all other related financing agreements and documents entered into in connection with the Loan Agreement were deemed terminated.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash proceeds from the working capital line of credit totaled $2,405,034 and cash payments to the working capital line of credit totaled $4,182,971.

John Keeler Promissory Notes

From January 2006 through May 2017, Keeler & Co issued 6% demand promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $2,910,000 to John Keeler, our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman. As of December 31, 2023, approximately $165,600 of principal remains outstanding and approximately $50,500 of interest was paid under the notes during the year ended December 31, 2023. These notes are subordinated to the Lighthouse note. After satisfaction of the terms of the subordination, the Company may prepay the notes at any time first against interest due thereunder. If an event of default occurs under the notes, interest will accrue at 18% per annum and if not paid within ten days of payment becoming due, the holder of the note is entitled to a late fee of 5% of the amount of payment not timely made. The Company made principal payments of $157,380 during the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 3,958,333 shares of its common stock to settle $570,000 principal of the subordinated notes.

Underwritten Offering

On September 11, 2023, the Company offered and sold in a “best efforts” public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1, which was declared effective by the SEC on September 7, 2023, an aggregate of 690,000 shares of common stock, together with Series A-1 warrants to purchase up to 10,741,139 shares of common stock and Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to 10,741,139 shares of common stock (collectively, the “Common Warrants”) and 10,051,130 pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”).

Each share of common stock and Pre-Funded Warrants were sold together with a Series A-1 common stock purchase warrant to purchase one share of common stock and a Series A-2 common stock purchase warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The shares of common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Common Warrants are immediately separable and were issued separately. The public offering price for each share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrants was $0.4655. Each Common Warrant has an exercise price per share of $0.4655 and will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of stockholder approval of the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the Common Warrants (“Warrant Stockholder Approval”). The Series A-1 common stock purchase warrants will expire on the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval. The Series A-2 common stock purchase warrants will expire on the eighteen-month anniversary of the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval. The Pre-Funded Warrants are exercisable immediately, may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full, and have an exercise price of $0.01. The Warrant Stockholder Approval has not yet been obtained.

The shares of common stock, Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants were sold pursuant to a securities purchase agreement. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC acted as placement agent for the offering and received a fee of 7% of the gross proceeds, reimbursement of $35,000 in non-accountable expenses and $100,000 for legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

2021 Underwritten Offering

On November 2, 2021, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Newbridge Securities Corporation (“Newbridge”), as representative of the underwriters listed therein (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to the Underwriters in a firm commitment underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) an aggregate of 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a public offering price of $5.00 per share. In addition, the Underwriters were granted an over-allotment option (the “Over-allotment Option”) for a period of 45 days to purchase up to an additional 120,000 shares of common stock. The Offering closed on November 5, 2021 and the common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BSFC” on November 3, 2021. The Over-allotment Option was not exercised by the Underwriters.

The net proceeds to the Company from the Offering, after deducting the underwriting discount, the underwriters’ fees and expenses and the Company’s estimated Offering expenses, were approximately $3,600,000. The Company used the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses, and capital expenditures. The Company may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or make investments in businesses, products, and offerings, although the Company does not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and related “lock-up” agreements, each director, executive officer, and beneficial owners of over 10% of the Company’s common stock (for a period of 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering), have agreed, subject to customary exceptions, not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of securities of the Company, without the prior written consent of Newbridge.

On November 5, 2021, in connection with the November 2, 2021 Offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 2,800 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $100.00 per share to Newbridge. Such warrant expires on November 11, 2024.

Lind Global Fund II LP investment

On January 24, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Lind Global Fund II LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Lind”), pursuant to which the Company issued to Lind a secured, two-year, interest free convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $5,750,000 and a five-year warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $4.50 per share, subject to customary adjustments (50,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $90 per share after taking into account the Company’s Reverse Stock Split). The warrant provides for cashless exercise and for full ratchet anti-dilution if the Company issues securities at less than $4.50 per share (exercise price of $90 per share after taking into account the Company’s Reverse Stock Split). In connection with the issuance of the note and the warrant, the Company paid a $150,000 commitment fee to Lind and approximately $87,000 of debt issuance costs.

The outstanding principal under the note is payable commencing July 24, 2022, in 18 consecutive monthly installments of $333,333, at the Company’s option, in cash or shares of common stock at a price (the “Repayment Share Price”) based on 90% of the five lowest volume weighted average prices (“VWAP”) during the 20-days prior to the payment date with a floor price of $1.50 per share (the “Floor Price”) (floor price of $30 per share after taking into account the Company’s Reverse Stock Split), or a combination of cash and stock provided that if at any time the Repayment Share Price is deemed to be the Floor Price, then in addition to shares, the Company will pay Lind an additional amount in cash as determined pursuant to a formula contained in the note.

In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company granted Lind a first priority security interest and lien on all of its assets, including a pledge on its shares in John Keeler & Co. Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, pursuant to a security agreement and a stock pledge agreement with Lind, dated January 24, 2022. Each subsidiary of the Company also granted a second priority security interest in all of its respective assets.

The note is mandatorily payable prior to maturity if the Company issues any preferred stock (with certain exceptions described in the note) or, if the Company or its subsidiaries issues any indebtedness other than certain amounts under the then line of credit facility with Lighthouse. The Company also agreed not to issue or sell any securities with a conversion, exercise or other price based on a discount to the trading prices of the Company’s stock or to grant the right to receive additional securities based on future transactions of the Company on terms more favorable than those granted to Lind, with certain exceptions.

If the Company fails to maintain the listing and trading of its common stock, the note will become due and payable and Lind may convert all or a portion of the outstanding principal at the lower of the then current conversion price and 80% of the average of the 3-day VWAP during the 20 days prior to delivery of the conversion notice.

If the Company engages in capital raising transactions, Lind has the right to purchase up to 10% of the new securities.

The note is convertible into common stock at $5.00 per share ($100 per share after taking into account the Company’s Reverse Stock Split), subject to certain adjustments, at any time after the earlier of six months from issuance or the date the registration statement is effective; provided that no such conversion may be made that would result in beneficial ownership by Lind and its affiliates of more than 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. If shares are issued by the Company at less than the conversion price, the conversion price will be reduced to such price.

On September 15, 2023, the Company paid $2,573,142 to Lind and the note was extinguished.

On May 30, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Lind pursuant to which the Company issued to Lind a secured, two-year, interest free convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $1,200,000 (the “Lind Note”) and a warrant (the “Lind Warrant”) to purchase 435,035 shares of common stock of the Company commencing six months after issuance and exercisable for five years at an exercise price of $2.45 per share, for the aggregate funding amount of $1,000,000. The Lind Warrant includes cashless exercise and full ratchet anti-dilution provisions. In connection with the issuance of the Lind Note and the Lind Warrant, the Company paid Lind a $50,000 commitment fee. The proceeds from the sale of the Note and Warrant are for general working capital purposes.

On July 27, 2023, the Company, entered into a First Amendment to the securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement Amendment”) with Lind, pursuant to which the Company amended the securities purchase agreement, entered into with Lind as of May 30, 2023 in order to permit the issuance of further senior convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of up to $1,800,000 and warrants in such aggregate amount as the Company and Lind shall mutually agree.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement Amendment, the Company issued to Lind a two-year, interest free convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $300,000 and a warrant to purchase 175,234 shares of common stock of the Company commencing six months after issuance and exercisable for five years at an exercise price of $1.34 per share, for the aggregate amount of $250,000. In connection with the issuance of the note and the warrant, the Company paid a $12,500 commitment fee. The proceeds from the sale of the note and warrant are for general working capital purposes.

Agile Loan

In order to refinance interest due on the June 14, 2023 note issued to Agile, on January 2, 2024, the Company, and Keeler & Co. entered into a subordinated business loan and security agreement with Agile and Agile Capital as collateral agent, which provides for a term loan to the Company in the amount of $122,491 which principal and interest (of $48,996) is due on May 31, 2024. Commencing January 5, 2024, the Company is required to make weekly payments of $7,795 until the due date. The loan may be prepaid subject to a prepayment fee. An administrative agent fee of $5,833 was paid on the loan. A default interest rate of 5% will become effective upon the occurrence of an event of default. In connection with the loan, Agile was issued a subordinated secured promissory note, dated January 2, 2024, in the principal amount of $122,491 which note is secured by all of the Borrower’s assets, including receivables.

ClearThink Term Loan

On January 18, 2024, the Company entered into the Revenue-Based Factoring MCA Plus Agreement with ClearThink which provides, among other things, for a 33-week term loan in the principal amount of $200,000 (with an additional one-time commitment fee of $50,000). Interest accrues at the rate of 25% per annum with an additional 5% default interest rate in the event of circumstances described in the agreement or $50,000 will be added to the principal amount and accrue after principal is paid. The Company is required to make biweekly payments of $14,706, commencing February 1, 2024 for the term of the Agreement. On January 25, 2024, the Company issued 354,610 shares of common stock to ClearThink as a commitment fee.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Valuation of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and long-lived assets include the cost of the acquired business in excess of the fair value of the net assets recorded in connection with an acquisition. Long-lived assets include customer relationships, non-compete agreements, trademarks and fixed assets. For goodwill, our policy is to assess for impairment at year-end or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. For long-lived assets, we assess for impairment only if events occur that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Annually, we assess the recoverability of goodwill and long-lived assets by determining whether the fair values exceed the carrying values of these assets. For long-lived assets, we use the income method, which uses a forecast of the expected future net cash flows associated with each asset. These cash flows are then adjusted to present value by applying an appropriate discount rate that reflects the risk factors associated with the cash flow streams. Our goodwill testing may be performed utilizing either a qualitative or quantitative assessment; however, if a qualitative assessment is performed and we determine that the fair value of a reporting unit is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50 percent) to be less than its carrying amount, a quantitative test is performed.

When using a quantitative test, we arrive at our estimates of fair value using a discounted cash flow analysis. Our assessment for impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets compared the fair value of the reporting unit to the corresponding carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. An annual impairment analysis for goodwill and long-lived assets was completed for Coastal Pride and TOBC due to the lower forecasted revenues and gross losses recognized in the year ended December 31, 2022 as a result of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business. Based on our year-end 2022 annual impairment analysis for goodwill and long-lived assets, we recorded an impairment loss on customer relationships, trademarks, non-compete agreements and fixed assets of $1,595,677, $1,006,185, $78,116 and $1,873,619, respectively, related to Coastal Pride and TOBC. For goodwill, the analysis concluded an impairment of $1,244,309 related to Coastal Pride and TOBC for year ended December 31, 2022. No impairment was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The fair value conclusions as of December 31, 2022 are highly sensitive to changes in the assumptions used in the income approach, which include forecasted revenues, perpetual growth rates, among others, all of which require significant judgments by management.

Fair value of the reporting unit is therefore determined using significant unobservable inputs, or level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company has used recent historical performance, current forecasted financial information, and broad-based industry and economic statistics as a basis to estimate the key assumptions utilized in the forecasted cash flow model. These key assumptions are inherently uncertain and require a high degree of estimation and judgment and are subject to change based on future changes, industry and global economic and geo-political conditions, and the timing and success of the implementation of current strategic initiatives.

Inventories

Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of packaged crab meat located at a public cold storage facility and merchandise in transit from suppliers. The Company also has eggs and fish in process inventory from TOBC. The cost of inventory is primarily determined using the specific identification method for crab meat. Fish in process inventory is measured based on the estimated biomass of fish on hand. The Company has established a standard procedure to estimate the biomass of fish on hand using counting and sampling techniques. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, cost being determined using the first-in, first-out method for crab meat and using various estimates and assumptions in regard to the calculation of the biomass, including expected yield, market value of the biomass, and estimated costs of completion.

Merchandise is purchased cost and freight shipping point and becomes the Company’s asset and liability upon leaving the suppliers’ warehouse. The Company had in-transit inventory of approximately $974,000 and $1,598,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

The Company periodically reviews the value of items in inventory and records an allowance to reduce the carrying value of inventory to the lower of cost or net realizable value based on its assessment of market conditions, inventory turnover and current stock levels. Inventory write-downs are charged to cost of goods sold. The Company recorded an inventory allowance of $176,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as such, we record revenue when our customer obtains control of the promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company’s source of revenue is from importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States and Canada under several brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika, Crab & Go, First Choice, Good Stuff and Coastal Pride Fresh and steelhead salmon and rainbow trout fingerlings produced by TOBC under the brand name Little Cedar Farms for distribution in Canada. We sell primarily to food service distributors. We also sell our products to wholesalers, retail establishments and seafood distributors.

To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer by receipt of purchase orders and confirmations sent by the Company which includes a required line of credit approval process, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract which includes shipment of goods to the customer FOB shipping point or destination, (3) determine the transaction price which initiates with the purchase order received from the customer and confirmation sent by the Company and will include discounts and allowances by customer if any, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract which is the shipment of the goods to the customer and transaction price determined in step 3 above and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation which is when the Company transfers control of the goods to the customers by shipment or delivery of the products.

The Company elected an accounting policy to treat shipping and handling activities as fulfillment activities. Consideration payable to a customer is recorded as a reduction of the arrangement’s transaction price, thereby reducing the amount of revenue recognized, unless the payment is for distinct goods or services received from the customer.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires entities to use a forward-looking, expected loss model to estimate credit losses. It also requires entities to consider additional disclosures related to credit quality of trade and other receivables, including information related to management’s estimate of credit allowances. ASU 2016-13 was further amended in November 2018 by ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 236, Financial Instrument-Credit Losses. For public business entities that are U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filers excluding smaller reporting companies, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. On October 16, 2019, FASB voted to delay implementation of ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” For all other entities, the amendments are now effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. On November 15, 2019, FASB issued an Accounting Standard Update No. 2019-10 to amend the implementation date to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted this ASU related to its trade receivables on January 1, 2023 and determined there was no material impact from the adoption of the ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reverse Stock Split

On March 29, 2023, the Company’s board of directors approved, and on May 10, 2023, at a special meeting of the stockholders, holders of approximately 87% of the Company’s voting power, approved the granting of authority to the Board to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, by a ratio of not less than 1-for-2 and not more than 1-for-50, with the exact ratio to be determined by the Board.

On June 9, 2023, the Company amended its Certificate of Incorporation to effect a one-for-twenty reverse stock split, which became effective on June 21, 2023. All share and per share amounts in this Annual Report have been restated for all periods presented to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

We currently have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information under this Item.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Blue Star Foods Corp.

Index to Audited Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

Blue Star Foods Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Blue Star Foods Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Going Concern Matter

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters

/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP

www.malonebailey.com

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.

Houston, Texas

April 1, 2024

Blue Star Foods Corp.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS