Summary:
The study aimed to evaluate the effects of onboard refrigerated seawater (RSW) storage of whole ungutted cod on the quality parameters of fillets. The reference group was directly gutted, bled, and stored in ice, while three experimental groups were gill-cut, bled, and stored ungutted in an onboard RSW tub at −1.5°C for 24, 60, and 84 hours. The results showed a difference between groups with extended RSW storage leading to negative effects such as increased gaping, bile spots, TVB-N levels, and bacterial growth after 60 hours. Conversely, the 24-hour RSW group closely resembled the quality parameters of the reference group.