Abstract:
The fat contents and fatty acid profiles of the skin, dorsal muscle, ventral
muscle and belly flap of the Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
(Thalapatha) were determined. Three fish samples per month were
obtained from Pitipana,Negambo landing site over a period of eight months
(August 2007- March 2008). The mean fat content of the edible portion
of I.. platypterus, was lower than 5%. Therefore l. platypterus can be
considered as a low fat fish (low < 5%, medium 5-10, high> 10%). The
percentage content of fat in the skin and muscles were as follows; skin
(6.52 ±0.53), ventral muscle (2.52± 0.19), dorsal muscle (1.79± 0.27),
belly flap (3.91± 0.15). The composition of saturated fatty acids (SFA),
monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUPA) were as follows; skin 56%, 39%, 44%; ventral muscle 44%, 46%,
33%; dorsal muscle 39%, 42%, 24%; Belly flap 52%, 34%, 38%. The
proportion of eicosopentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in the fat of skin (2.31%,7.23%) and belly flap
(2.06%, 5.36%) were significantly high (P<0.05) compared to ventral
muscle (0.86%, 2.74%) and dorsal muscle (1.78,2.07%).
