Lipid Composition of Skin and Muscle of the Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus

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%).