Scots deploy taste testers to sample gas leak fish

[April 11, 2012]  LONDON (AP) -- The Scottish government says it has deployed taste testers to sample fish found around the site of a North Sea gas leak.

Specially trained "sensory testers" at the Aberdeen, Scotland-based Marine Scotland Science organization sniffed and tasted seven different species of fish collected near Total's leak-stricken Elgin platform.

The facility is pouring out millions of cubic feet (tens of thousands of cubic meters) of natural gas every day, and green groups have expressed concern over the leak's environmental impact.

The Scottish government says that fish gathered around the platform earlier this week by a trawler have been tasted and found to be untainted.

Spokesman Tom Whittles said Wednesday the test was an "established procedure which uses the power of the human tongue."

___

Online:

The Scottish government's statement:
http://bit.ly/IgjINv

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.