Proteolytic Activity in Pacific Whiting and Effects of Surimi Processing

Pacific whiting showed high levels of proteolytic activity compared with other species, i.e., rockfish and squawfish. A wide variation of activity was found in individual whiting. The level of protease activity was highly correlated with the number of white pseudocysts in the muscle. Although correlation of proteolytic activity with black pseudocysts was low, higher activity was observed in tissue infected with black pseudocysts when compared to tissue without black pseudocysts. The protease activity of intact flesh was decreased by 83% during surimi processing.