Determination of fatty acid composition in relation to the growth of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) cultured in net cages

The aim of this study was to determine the composition of fatty acids of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) produced in net cages at a private company in the Aegean Sea. Regular samples were taken over the study period by random sampling for the estimation of fatty acid contents. At the end of the study, the highest mean (± SD) fatty acids in fish flesh were recorded as oleic acid (26.46 ± 0.01%), linoleic acid (20.91 ± 0.01%) and palmitic acid (15.99 ± 0.01%). Mean (± SD) total saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acid values were determined as 26.17 ± 0.03%, 32.62 ± 0.03% and 31.24 ± 0.01% respectively. The total values of omega-3, omega-6, omega-9, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were 8.73 ± 0.01 – 14.51 ± 0.04%, 18.78 ± 0.03 – 25.26 ± 0.01%, 27.12 ± 0.01 – 30.5 ± 0.01%, 1.39 ± 0.01 – 3.52 ± 0.01% and 4.24 ± 0.01 – 7.64 ± 0.01% respectively and all these values varied significantly over time (P < 0.05). Despite having a low crude fat content, the meagre could be a good source of PUFA, in terms of fatty acids.