The Effects of Season and Sex on the Nutritional Quality of Muscle Types of Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus and Swimming Crab Portunus segnis

Abstract

The effects of season and sex on the nutritional quality of muscle types (lump crab meatLCM, claw crab meat-CCM) of swimming crab (Portunus segnis) and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) were investigated. Carapace width, carapace length and total weight of both crab species were measured. High protein content in spring and low protein content in autumn were observed for both crab species. The levels of lipid content of both crab species were found to be similar. Higher lipid contents in spring and winter, lower lipid contents in summer and autumn for both sexes were found. Although both crab species contain small amounts of fat, they are good sources of n-3 PUFA content (especially EPA and DHA) for all seasons regardless of sex and muscle types. 

Keywords

• Crabs,nutritional quality,fatty acids,EPA,DHA

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