Short communication: The effect of spawning season on fatty acid composition of tigertooth croaker, Otolithes ruber from Abadan and Khoramshahr areas (Iran)

Abstract

Fatty acids especially Docosahexaenoic (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as more prevalent among the essential fatty acids are very important for normal physiology of marine fishes and also very beneficial to human health in particular for reducing risk of heart diseases, growth of fetal nerve tissue and infant brain and visual function (Colquhoun et al., 2008; Khoddami et al., 2009; Oksuz et al., 2011; Khoddami et al., 2012). Few studies have been conducted on fatty acid content and composition of fish carcass during the spawning season. Tziask et al., (2007) showed that the fat content of Mediterranean horse mackerel, Trachurns mediterraneus carcass reaches its lowest level during the spawning season. Also, the lipid content of two fish species Sardinella longicep and Sardinella fimbriata was found to be higher in fish sampled before sexual maturation compared to those sampled at the peak of sexual maturation (Som and Radhakrishnan, 2013). However, there was no significant difference in lipid content of mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta before sexual maturation and at the peak of sexual maturation (Ganga, 2010). Also, There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the levels of SFA,MUFA and PUFA in terms of species, season and muscle types of Mediterranean Octopuses (Ayas, 2012).