Influence of Body Protein Content on Deviation of Fish Body Density in Cultured Red Sea Bream

Abstract

To clarify the influence of body composition on the deviation of fish body density in cultured red sea bream, the contents of fat, water, protein, and ash in whole body were analyzed after measuring the body density of living fish in 39 specimens of cultured and wild fish. A significant, negative correlation was found between the fish body density and the body fat content, and a significant, positive correlation was found between the deviation of fish body density from the regression line and the density of remaining matter, without fat and water from whole body. On the other hand, a significant, negative correlation was found between the density of remaining matter and the body protein content though no significant correlation was found between that of remaining matter and body ash content. Therefore, it is suggested that the deviation of fish body density from the regression line between the fish body density and the body fat content is caused by the body protein content, or muscle quantity, in the whole body. © 1995, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.