Small pelagic fishes .play a very important role in human nutrition and health. Lipids of these fishes consist with special characteristics than other plant and animal lipids. This study evaluates the proximate composition of thirty-three small pelagic fish species commonly available in Sri Lanka. Fish samples were collected from Negombo and Chilaw fish landing sites on the north-western coast of Sri Lanka and subjected to analysis for moisture, ash, protein and total lipid content. Tigertooth croaker (Otolithus ruber) reported to have highest moisture percentage (80.0%) followed by Clarias.sp (78.9%), Indian anchovy (Steloporus indicus) and Comerson’s anchovy (Stelophorus commersonii), (78.%). The lowest percentage of moisture, 69.4%, was recorded in White sardinella (Sardinella albella). Indian ilisha (Ilisha melastoma) contained the highest amount of ash (10.1%) followed by Otolithus.sp (8%) and Big-eye barracuda showed the least amount (2.54%). Carassius Carassius, Pickhandle barracuda (Sphyraena jello) and Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) recorded higher amount of protein, 24.3, 20.6 and 19.2% of protein respectively. The least protein content (10.1%) was found in Indian scad (Decapterus russelli). The protein content of 8 species was around 15% and 22 species in the range of 13 - 17% from the 33 species studied. This data revealed that these species of small fishes are moderate protein sources. The total lipid content of analyzed species varied between 0.6 - 8 %. White sardinella recorded the highest percentage of lipids (8%), which had lowest amount of moisture. Tigertooth croaker contained the lowest percentage of lipids which was 0.6 % and recorded the highest percentage of moisture. Generally high fatty species contained low amount of moisture indicating that there is an inverse relationship between fat content and moisture. Based on the results of the lipid content, abundance and low price of the fish, four pelagic species White sardinella (Sardinella albella), Thryssa.sp, Silverbelly (Secutor ruconius), Streaked spinefoot (Sianus javus) are subjected for further studies on the seasonal variation of lipids and the lipid
E.M.R.K.B. Edirisinghe and V. Jayaweera
Agency (NARA), Colombo-15, Sri Lanka.
Abstract
quality.