diff --git a/components/mpas-ocean/src/Registry.xml b/components/mpas-ocean/src/Registry.xml
index 921bf40459fb..ba930e3a3489 100644
--- a/components/mpas-ocean/src/Registry.xml
+++ b/components/mpas-ocean/src/Registry.xml
@@ -3834,7 +3834,7 @@
 			 packages="frazilIce"
 		/>
 		<var name="frazilIceFreshwaterFlux" type="real" dimensions="nCells Time" units="kg m^-2 s^-1"
-			description="Flux of frazil ice mass through the ocean surface. Positive into ocean."
+			description="Flux of frazil ice mass through the ocean surface. Negative is defined as mass leaving the ocean."
 			packages="frazilIce"
 		/>
 
diff --git a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_frazil_forcing.F b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_frazil_forcing.F
index dd4d4f1edaaa..0f06a8d39c16 100644
--- a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_frazil_forcing.F
+++ b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_frazil_forcing.F
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ subroutine ocn_frazil_forcing_build_arrays(domain, meshPool, forcingPool, stateP
         enddo   ! do k=kBottom,minLevelCell,-1
 
         ! frazilIceFreshwaterFlux forms part of the landIceFreshwaterFluxTotal computed in surface land ice fluxes
-        frazilIceFreshwaterFlux(iCell) = (sumNewFrazilIceThickness * config_frazil_ice_density) / dt
+        frazilIceFreshwaterFlux(iCell) = - (sumNewFrazilIceThickness * config_frazil_ice_density) / dt
         ! accumulate frazil mass to column total
         ! note: the accumulatedFrazilIceMass (at both time levels) is reset to zero after being sent to the coupler
         accumulatedFrazilIceMassNew(iCell) = accumulatedFrazilIceMassOld(iCell) + sumNewFrazilIceThickness &