Utilization of Gambusia (Affinis affinis) For Fish Sauce Production

Fish sauce made from Gambusia (Affinis affinis) is evaluted in this study. Whole gambusia samples were carefully washed, well mixed with 25% (w/w) salt and incubated at room temperature for five months (from January up to the end of May, 2006). Salted fish was manually drained using cheese cloth to separate supernatant liquor to keep out salted fish. The fish sauce obtained was composed of 65.97% moisture, 12.37% crude protein, 1.56% lipid, 19.33% ash and 9.08% sodium chloride content. In addition, the pH value was 6.08 and the nonessential amino acids (3,864 mg/100 ml) were higher than the essential amino acids (AAs) ones (2,172 mg/100 ml). Based on the biochemical criteria, nutritional value as well as microbial aspects indicated that gambusia fish could be successfully utilized for fish sauce production as value added fish product.