Flavour and hydrocarbon assessment of fish from gas fields in the Southern North Sea

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), dab (Limanda limanda) and sole (Solea solea), caught by netting in the vicinity of selected Southern North Sea gas production platforms, were assessed by an expert sensory panel for possible tainting (atypical flavour). Selected samples offish tissue and sediment were analysed for n-alkanes.

Any atypical flavours detected were classed as ‘slight’ on the scale used and were found in fish from both platform and reference sites. The incidence of these flavours, but not the mean intensity in affected fish differed between platform sites. When selected fish were assessed specifically for ‘oily’ flavour, only onefish was considered to have a ‘slight’ oily flavour. The levels offlavour detected by the expert panel were close to the detection threshold; it is unlikely they would be detected by the untrained consumer. None of the flavours detected were attributable directly to platform operations. Increased levels of petrogenic hydrocarbons in fish from platform sites were found but these levels were not associated with any impairment offlavour.