Technological Properties and Biochemical Studies of Bonga Ethmalosa fimhriata

Abstract

Size measurements, anatomical composition and biochemical evaluations of bonga (Ethynalosa fimhriata) muscle were carried out. The mean values of length and weight recorded for bonga over a period of 2 months were 22.12+1.27 cm and 136.82±13.27 g respectively. Size measurements as shown by length and weight data for the one-year period suggested a positive effect of season on size. The pattern of change in weight throughout the study period was similar to that of change in length and gave a correlation coefficient " r " of 0.82 significant at p<0.05. Anatomical fractionation showed that bonga contained on the average 61.1% trunk, 23.7% head and 16.3% viscera. Total wastes (head and viscera) derived from bonga were 39.9% of the total body weight. The proximate chemical composition analysis showed that the muscle of bonga contained between 74.14% and 77.54% moisture, 1.12-5.69% lipid, 18.73- 21.54% protein and 1.57- 2.14% ash. The chemical composition did not vary significantly except in lipid content where a significant (p<0.05) inverse relationship between moisture and lipid content was observed. Triglycerides accounted for over 5% of lipid in bonga. The major fatty acid component in the lipid of bonga were C 16:0, C 18:0, C 18:1, C 20:4, C 20:5and C 22:6.