Nutritional Quality Assessment of Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIS) from the Mathabhanga River in Bangladesh

provide an affordable and readily available source of animal protein for human consumption that plays a vital role in maintaining the livelihoods of Bangladeshi people. The study was conducted to evaluate the proximate composition of five different small indigenous fish species (SIS): viz ., Glossogobius giuris , Mastacembelus pancalus , Mystus tengra , Heteropneustes fossilis , and Puntius ticto . The samples were collected from the Mathabhanga River. The proximate composition of the studied samples revealed varying proportions of moisture content (68.60 to 79.05%), crude protein (46.22 to 65.99%), crude fat (4.77 to 22.93%), ash content (12.03 to 19.22%), carbohydrate (11.22 to 15.73%), crude fiber (0.09 to 0.25%), whereas the energy value was 374.04 to 444.91Kcal/ 100g. Among the examined fish species, Glossogobius giuris contained significantly (P< 0.5) higher level of protein content but less amount of lipid content. Addittionally, Puntius ticto showed significantly (P< 0.05) higher lipid, ash and energy contents as compared to others. The results of the study clearly revealed that Glossogobius giuris and Puntius ticto fish species are rich in macronutrients in alliance with the tested fish species. Hence, the research findings suggest that commonly consumed small indigenous fish species (SIS) offer a valuable source of high-quality protein and essential macronutrients. This implies that the consumption of these fish can help alleviate protein and other nutrient deficiency, as well as livelihood security in Bangladesh. Further biochemical and molecular research can be conducted to analyze all the essential nutrients and genetic improvement of the fish.