Potential of mollusks from the coastal of Merauke as protein source for local community

Abstract

Telebralia palutris, Cheritidea obtusa, Siliqua winteriana, and Polymesoda bengalensis are the types of mollusks consumed by the local community in Merauke. The purpose of this study was to investigate water content, ash content, protein content, and fat content in mollusks from the coastal of Lampu Satu, Merauke. Chemical composition was analyzed in an organic chemistry laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Ujung Pandang, Makassar. Analysis of protein content used semi micro-Kjeldahl method, while analysis fat contents use soxhletase. The result of the study revealed that the highest content of water, 78.66% was Telebralia palutris, the highest content of ash, 28.13% was Telebralia palutris, and the highest content of fat, 14.53% was Polymesoda bengalensis and the high content of protein 42.01 was Polymesoda bengalensis. Based on the result, Polymesoda bengalensis could be a good animal protein and fat resource to complete protein necessity and fat beside meat and fish. These Bivalvia and Gastropoda from Mollusca phylum are potential and have economic value to be developed as a protein and fat resources in completing of needs for Indonesia society in general and Merauke in particular.