Fatty acid profiles of Trachinus radiatus Cuvier, 1829 (Perciformes-Trachinoidei, Trachinidae)

The goal of this study was to analyse the fatty acid (FA) profiles of the streaked (starry) weever (Trachinus radiatus), a prized food fish in the countries of its distribution. Fish (N=20) were sampled in July 2011. Location: 42.761019 degrees N, 17.765090 degrees W; Adriatic Sea, Elaphite Islands near Dubrovnik, Croatia, at 5-10m depth using longline hooks; body length ranges: 24.1-47.2cm, weight ranges: 120-960g. Morphological species determination was genetically confirmed (Folmer region of COI gene). Biochemical analysis of T.radiatus muscular tissue (filet) revealed average +/- SD dry matter of 252.3 +/- 14.8g/kg w.w.; moisture of 747.7 +/- 14.8g/kg w.w., and ash of 28.0 +/- 6.9g/kg w.w. Intramuscular crude protein content exceeded the total lipid (TL=11.9 +/- 4.0g/kg w.w.) content approximately 17.7 fold. Unsaturated FA (UFA) was higher than saturated FA (SFA), with a predominance of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). The 3:6 ratio was 4.9:1, respectively. Among individually determined fatty acids, the PUFA 22:6n3 (DHA) was highly present (29.99 +/- 2.75% TL) followed by a relatively high 20:5n3 (EPA) content. There was 25 fold higher EPA content than of substrate LNA, and a 15.5 fold higher DHA content to DPAn3. Such ratios indicate that besides trophic ingestion, FA bioconversion elongase/desaturase synthesis pathways toward 3 PUFA in Weevers could be highly efficient.