Abstract Full Text:PDF Recommended articles Mail to Author How to Cite

¹ Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202 Bangladesh
² Department of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh DOI : 10.4194/AFS311 - Earthy-musty off-flavours in farmed freshwater fish are driven primarily by GSM and 2-MIB, which partition into lipid-rich tissues and depress consumer acceptance. We conducted a quantitative synthesis and meta-analysis review of experimental aquaculture studies reporting fillet GSM/2-MIB at baseline and ≥1 post-depuration time point with variance (or convertible equivalents). Effects were expressed as log response ratios (LRR=ln[final/baseline]); where authors modelled first-order decay C(t)=Be−kt, LRR was computed as -kt. Pooled via multilevel random-effects metaanalysis (effects nested within study), depuration consistently reduced fillet burdens across species and systems: study-arm LRRs for GSM ranged from -1.05 to -4.03 (≈65- 98% reduction), and for 2-MIB from -0.27 to -3.13 (≈24-96% reduction). Moderator analyses aligned with kinetic expectations: higher HRT and warmer water were associated with faster removal; rigorous system hygiene and water exchange supported sustained boundary conditions; DO (90-100% saturation) and increased swimming speed had comparatively modest additional effects under optimal conditions. Practically, 8-10 days of waterborne depuration in clean, well-exchanged systems (higher HRT; warmer within welfare limits) reliably achieved >90% GSM reduction in salmonids and pikeperch, with shorter groundwater holds delivering rapid early declines in pangasius. The analysis plan and effect-size table enable reproducible pooling and moderator testing to inform facility-specific depuration design and timeto- market decisions. Keywords : Off-flavour Geosmin 2-MIB Depuration RAS Meta-analysis