This week FreshDirect is rolling out its Daily Seafood Rating System, which the Long Island City, N.Y.-based online grocer said will “[take] the guesswork out of choosing high-quality seafood and [eliminate] the need to speak with a fishmonger to find out what’s best that day.” The new program employs a star system similar to that used in its Daily Produce Rating System.

Under the seafood system, FreshDirect’s in-house experts inspect the grocer’s seafood stock each morning to provide customers with recommendations that are accurate for deliveries on the day following the ranking. The experts will make their assessments based on smell, look and feel, the way experts at fish docks and local fish vendors do, enabling FreshDirect to advise customers on a broader range of seafood items.

During the summer, customers can take advantage of the system to experience FreshDirect’s local fish catch, including wild black sea bass, wild swordfish and wild mahi mahi. Additionally, the program helps identify first-of-season catches on short seasonal fish such as wild Alaskan salmon and shad.

The ratings will run as follows: Five Stars: Never Better, Four Stars: Great, Three Stars: Good

“Knowing that not all seafood lovers are seafood experts, FreshDirect’s Daily Seafood Rating System lets our customers know which items are the catch of the day and the best seasonal picks,” observed FreshDirect seafood expert Marc Sirois. “Customers can be confident that we are offering them knowledgeable recommendations on all seafood items, allowing them to safely venture out and try exotic fishes as well as enjoy seasonal favorites.”

As well as the rating system, the grocer offers seafood recipes on its Web site.

FreshDirect serves most of Manhattan and locations in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx, as well as parts of New Jersey, Westchester, and Nassau County.