Seasonal Variation in the Nutritional Composition of Fishes in Tuticorin, Southeast Coast of India

Background: The nutritional quality of fish is very important for human consumers. The consumption of fish provides important nutrients to a large number of people worldwide and makes a very significant contribution to nutrition. The purpose of the study was to investigate the proximate composition of economically important marine water fish.

Methods: The present work was conducted between March 2016 and February 2017, investigated the seasonal variations in the contents of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and moisture in six fish species namely Sardinella fimbriata, Stolephorus commersonnii, Epinephelus areolatus, Carangoides chrysophrys, Gazza achlamys and Parupeneus indicus. The fish samples were collected from the fish market of Tuticorin. The proximate compositions of the samples were analysed according to standard AOAC methods.

Results: Remarkable seasonal variations are found in the levels of the parameters studied in the six selected species. In all the seasons, Epinephelus areolatus is characterized by the highest moisture and ash contents, and Carangoides chrysophrys by the highest protein and carbohydrate contents, whereas Sardinella fimbriata contains more lipids. Except for moisture content all other nutrient compositions are high during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods. During summer the nutrient contents decrease due to breeding activities involving maturation of gonads, and after the breeding season the nutrient contents again show a rising trend. The seasonal variations in nutrient composition in fish are related to the cycle of maturation and depletion of gonads. Different phases of maturation are associated with marked quantitative fluctuations of each nutrient in different fishes.

Conclusion: Based on the current finding, it is concluded that fishes are very good sources of protein, carbohydrates, ash, and lipids and that the biochemical constituents of the body tissues of fishes fluctuate during different seasons. The results suggested that the consumption of those fish species contributed to human health. Finally, this research work might help to understand the changes in nutritional values of some commercial fishes in various seasons and will assist in identifying the proper fish harvesting period.