A series of short (8 hours) and long term (96 hours) exposure studies was conducted on a laboratory scale to evaluation (1) the threshold concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon in seawater which can lead to tainting problems in yellow tail (Seriola quinqueradiata) and (2) the time to recover (depuration period) once the tainting has occurred. The water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil was prepared by stirring the oil with cold seawater. The main component of the WSF were low-boiling aromatics, although these were only al small proportion of the starting oil. From the sencory evaluation it was concluded that the threshold hydrocarbon levels in seawater which will impart a taint in yellow tail fillets within a 8-hour exposure period (short exposure period) are in the range of 0.4 to 1.0 ppm and within a 96-hour exposure period (long exposure period) are in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 ppm. Depuration trials were carried out with WSF from crude oil. The fish were exposed for 48 hours to concentration of 2.5 ppm hydrocarbons. After 48-hour exposure period, the fish were allowed to depurate in fresh, uncontaminated seawater. Depuration time for these fish was 10 days. The taste panelists were able to detect the contaminated fillets very easily while the depurated fish could not be distiguished from the control.