Studies of the effect of treatment of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) with solutions of sodium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) have shown that a 1% solution of tetrasodium EDTA used as a dip can extend the storage life in ice (0 C) for 11 days over that of untreated controls. The texture of these fillets remained acceptable for the whole of their storage lives.Fillets treated with 0.5 and 0.75% tetrasodium EDTA had a storage life extension of 5 days and those treated with 1% disodium EDTA had a storage life of 6 days longer than the untreated control fillets. Fillets treated with 0.5 and 1.0% disodium calcium EDTA solution showed 0- and 1-day storage life extension respectively.Increase in trimethylamine (TMA) during storage was reduced by treatment with EDTA with the tetrasodium EDTA-treated fillets having the lowest rate of increase. Samples were rejected by the taste panel as spoiled with TMA values of between 3 and 9.5 mg TMA nitrogen (TMA-N) per 100 g.Although treatment of fillets with EDTA extended the storage life in ice and suppressed the increase in TMA, there was little or no effect on the growth of the bacterial population.