Seasonal Variations in Proximate Composition of Nine Freshwater Fish

The variation in proximate composition was determined in relation to season and body weight of nine freshwater fish i.e. Mystus vittatus, Ompok bimaculatus, Channa striata, Wallago attu, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Labeo bata, Labeo calbasu, Cirrhinus reba and Puntius javanicus. The samples were collected in different seasons from different places and divided into small and big body weight groups. Nutritional composition of fish species was determined during the three seasons i.e. S₁ (January-April), S₂ (May-August) and S₃ (September-December) of the year. Protein content ranged from 12.52–19.19% among the species on wet weight basis. Protein content was higher (P<0.01) in C. reba (>100 g) during January-April. Protein, fat and ash content of P. javanicus was higher (P<0.01) in fish of size (>100 g) during S₃ (September-December). Protein content was higher (P<0.05) in O. bimaculatus and M. vitattus during S₁ (January-April) irrespective of body weight. Protein content was higher (P<0.01) during the month of May-August in C. striata of (>500 g) size group. Fat content of the L. bata was higher (P<0.01) during S₁ (January to April) irrespective of body size. Fat content in L. calbasu was similar in different seasons. Fat content of C. striata was higher (P<0.01) in >100g size group during S₁ (January-April). Protein content was higher in W. attu of >1000 g size group during S₂ (May-August). P. hypopthalamus of (>1000 g) size group revealed that fat content was higher (P<0.01) during S₃ (September-December). Thus, Indian freshwater fish are rich in protein, fat and ash contents and qualify as health food though there were some seasonal variations in proximate composition within the fish species.