BACKGROUND: Although volatile compounds characterising seafood have been studied extensively, no similar data are available regarding the volatiles of raw materials used in fish feed. Therefore the aim of this study was to make an initial screening of the volatiles of various common marine raw materials used in the aquaculture feed industry. Nine commercial marine oils (German (GFO1, GFO2 and GFO3) and Norwegian (NFO) fish oils and salmon (SO1 and SO2), tuna (TO), sardine (SRDO) and shrimp (SHO) oils) and eight commercial marine meals (Peruvian (PFM1 and PFM2), Danish (DFM1 and DFM2) and prime quality (PQFM1 and PQFM2) fish meals and Antarctic krill meals (KM1 and KM2)) were analysed for their fatty acid profiles and volatile flavour compounds. The relation between fatty acids and volatiles was examined.