Biogenic and volatile amine-related qualities of three popular fish species sold at Kuwait fish markets

Three fish species commonly consumed in Kuwait were studied for their total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN) and biogenic amine composition during normal commercial activities at the fish markets. Samples of the fish species Zubaidi or silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus), Hammour or orange–spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), and Negrule or grunt (Pomadasys kaakan) were analyzed using steam distillation and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures. Fish samples collected in the morning had lower levels of TVBN, ranging from 25.9 mg/100 g to 30.2 mg/100 g compared with the range of 31.2 mg/100 g to 40.9 mg/100 g for samples collected in the evening. Among all three fish species, Zubaidi (Pampus argenteus) showed the lowest TVBN content while Negrule (Pomadasys kaakan) had the highest. Biogenic amine levels were also low in the fish species. The data suggest that fish handling practices at the fish markets in Kuwait do not result in significant abuse of fish temperatures, and that the amounts of volatile and biogenic amines produced during normal activities did not rise to levels indicating fish decomposition.