Gas leak fish 'not contaminated'

May 1 2012

Chemical tests have confirmed there are no traces of hydrocarbon contamination on fish taken from the sea near a leaking gas platform, the Scottish Government has said.

The analysis was carried out two weeks after an initial investigation into samples around the Elgin platform in the North Sea, 150 miles from Aberdeen.

All 238 staff were evacuated from the platform, operated by Total, when it began leaking gas in March, leading to fears for the environment.

Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "All of the chemical and sensory testing work carried out by Marine Scotland on the effects on the marine environment of the leak has now concluded that there is no direct impact. Chemical testing of fish samples have found no evidence of contamination, which is of course reassuring.

"It's also encouraging that Total has confirmed that the gas leak has significantly slowed. I remain hopeful that this incident can be resolved as safely and quickly as possible, with the environmental impact minimised."

He said further samples will be taken from within the two-mile exclusion zone.