Storage characteristics of solar-dried Indian mackerel

Fresh Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian mackerel) was thoroughly washed, eviscerated, cleaned and salted overnight with dry salt (fish : salt :: 5:1). Salted mackerel was dried in solar drier and on cement floor under direct sun for three days. The temperature inside the drier was 948°C higher than the ambient temperature. The rate of drying was higher in solar drier than on cement floor. The dried fish packed in 300-gauge polythene bags was subjected to biochemical, microbiological and organoleptic evaluation at regular intervals to assess the storage life. The overall quality of fish dried in solar drier was better than that of the fish dried on cement floor under direct sun.

Studies on the preparation of fish silage. 2. Rate of liquefaction in different parts of silver belly

An experiment was undertaken to determine from which part of silver belly (Leiognathus splendens) carcasses originate the autolytic enzymes responsible for liquefaction of silage. Findings show that it is important to leave head and viscera present in order to get a satisfactory liquefaction in silage prepared from silver belly using 3.5% formic acid. The storage life of silage produced from various parts of the fish carcasses is also discussed.

Growth performance, recovery rate and fish yield of GIFT strain at various water depths under rice-fish culture systems

Effect of water depth on recovery rate, growth performance and fish yield of GIFT in the rice-fish production systems was studies in experimental plots of 123 m2 with a pond refuge of I meter deep which covered 10% of the total land area. Mortality rate of fish was very low ranging from 0.81-1.63%. However, at harvest, recovery rate ranged from 76.69-82.93% with the highest recovery at 11-15 em of water depth. Significantly the highest absolute growth (99.97) and specific growth rate (2.42%) were found at 21-25 cm water depth. The same treatment also produced significantly higher fish yield (909.76 kg/ha) although statistically similar to the fish yield (862.60 kg/ha) obtained at ll-15 em of water depth. Results also suggested that higher water depth can produce bigger fish but no significant effects of water depth was found on fish yield in the treatments 11-15 cm and 21-25 cm water depths of this experiment.

Diel feeding patterns, rate of gastric evacuation and foods of Indian sandwhiting, Sillago sihama in Mulki estuary, west coast of India

Diel feeding chronology of sandwhiting, Sillago sihama was examined from stomach collections taken during the months of April, July and December'99 in Mulki estuary along Dakshina Kannada coast, India. Significant differences in mean stomach content weight were found between several consecutive 3 hour periods with peak fullness occurring in early morning and evening hours. The rate of gastric evacuation of natural food (crustacea, polychaetes and fish) was measured in the field was best described by an exponential model, with an estimated evacuation time of 8.0 h at a temperature of 28.5 ± 1.2°C. Stomach content analysis indicated that this species is a carnivore on a wide range of benthic, epibenthic and planktonic prey. The principal food items of S. sihama were crustaceans, polychaetes and fish. Fishes less than 100 mm TL preferred mainly crustaceans while larger ones depends on polychaetes, crustaceans and fish. The feeding activity of S. sihama was influenced by tidal cycle.

Cumulative inbreeding rate in hatchery-reared indian major carps of Karnataka and Maharashtra states

The state fisheries department hatcheries are the major suppliers of seed to the farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The brood stocks of these hatcheries are genetically closed units. In the present study, effective population size and cumulative inbreeding rates were estimated. The cumulative inbreeding rates ranged from 2.69 to 13.75, 8.63 to 15.21 and 3.02 to 5.88 per cent for catla, mrigal and rohu, respectively, in Karnataka state hatcheries. In Maharashtra, the cumulative inbreeding rates for catla ranged from 7.81 to 39.34 per cent and it was 5.84 to 14.09 and 2.46 to 10.20 per cent for mrigal and rohu, respectively. To estimate the inbreeding rates in future generations, predictive models were developed using linear regression, and polynomial and power equations separately for each hatchery. Their multiple correlation and standard errors suggested that simple linear regression can predict the future inbreeding rate efficiently.

Mapping of the Indian fisheries growth rate and fish consumption through GIS

In the present study, Indian fisheries growth rate and fish consumption have been analyzed through GIS mapping. The analyses were based on the state-level fisheries data of India collected from the secondary sources. Accordingly, the paper contains one thematic map containing two layers. To achieve this, all the data have been brought into a tabular form through Microsoft Excel and then joined to Map Info Professional Version 8.0 GIS software with digitized map of India for further analysis to generate thematic maps. In this thematic map, the first Jayer represents the growth-rate of fish production for the period 1990-2004 and the second layer represents fish consumption for the year 2003. The thematic map represented in graphic form presents inland, marine and total growth rates, and also the rural and urban fish consumption at the state levels. This study will be useful to fish traders, planners, researchers and administrators in fisheries policy formulation for sustainable development.

Freeze drying of fishery products: Part IV - Biochemical changes occurring in prawn muscle during freezing, freeze drying and prolonged storage of the freeze dried product

The changes occurring in water and salt extractable protein and non-protein fractions in prawn muscle of different species during freezing, freeze drying and subsequent prolonged storage have been studied. There is no denaturation of water extractable proteins, whereas salt extractable proteins were rendered insoluble to the extent of 21% due to freeze drying. The freeze dried products remained in good edible condition for 32 months of storage up to which storage characteristics were followed.

Freeze drying of fishery products: Part V - Storage characteristics of ready-to-serve freeze dried foods

Behaviour of freeze dried ready-to-serve fish based food preparations during prolonged storage at room temp has been studied and reported in this paper. Storage life of such products under the conditions employed in this study can be reckoned in years at our ambient temps.

Preparation of mussel meat by drying

The paper describes a simple and cheap process for the preservation of mussel meat by drying. The method involves blanching the mussel meat shucked from purified live mussels in 5% boiling brine for 5 min followed by drying to moisture of 10 to 15%. The product stored in glass bottles or polythene bags suitably sealed, has a storage life of about six months after which the organoleptic qualities begin to deteriorate. No preservative is used at any stage of processing and the yield of the product is approximately 20%. The major type of spoilage during storage is brown discoloration. Spoilage due to insect infestation is also common unless packed properly.

Rate of filtration by Perna viridis pre-exposed to heavy metals

Perna viridis exposed to different concentrations of copper and zinc for varying periods and then the rate of filtration estimated under metal free culture conditions. The concentrations under which the animals were maintained before the experiments were 0.025 to 0.150 p.p.m. of zinc and 0.005 to 0.08 p.p.m. of copper.

Comparative efficiency of different surfaces for drying fish

The efficiency of four different drying surfaces, namely, cement platform, palmyrah leaf mat, aluminum tray and stretched net for drying fish were studied using sciaenids, mullet and perch. All the drying surfaces were found to be equally efficient. The cheaper and locally available palmyrah leaf mat or stretched net can replace costly cement platform and aluminium tray for efficient drying of fish.

Relationship between diet composition and growth rate of the zoeal and mysis stages of Penaeus japonicus Bate

Diets containing Chaetoceros gracilis plus Artemia nauplii artificially prepared diet, Diet-B, and two commercial feeds Tapes and mysid meals, were fed to larvae of P. japonicus. Highest survival rate was obtained when larvae were fed with Diet-B. The results show that the early larval stages of P. japonicus can be reared on artificially prepared diets. Since the chemical composition of the diet is known, it can be used as supplemental data for larval feeding development and nutritional requirement studies for the early larval stages of Penaeus japonicus and/or other penaeids. Information is tabulated on feeds and feeding rates used, composition of the artificial diet, fatty acid composition of lipids of the different diets, and of the sterols of the different diets.

Effect of cooking and drying on carbonyls of oil sardine

Changes in the total as well as major individual carbonyls of oil sardine during steam cooking, oven drying, sun drying and freeze drying are presented. Carbonyls extracted with hexane were converted to their 2:4 dinitro phenyl hydrazone (DNPH) derivatives and were separated into major classes by column chromatography on celite/magnesia. Individual carbonyls were then identified by capillary gas chromatography of the DNPH derivatives. Dehydration and heating increase the carbonyl production from highly unsaturated fish lipids. The carbonyls produced react with other muscle constituents leading to complex changes. The influence of the mode of dehydration on these different aspects and their net effect on flavour are discussed.

Effects of dietary supplementation of commercial human probiotic and antibiotic on the growth rate and content of intestinal microflora in ornamental fishes

The effects of dietary supplementation of commercial human probiotic, Lactobacil and antibiotic, oxytetracycline on the growth, survival, disease resistance and content of intestinal microflora in two ornamental fishes, viz., goldfish, Carassius auratus and swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri were studied. The total wet weight gain, food conversion ratio and specific growth rate of C. auratus did not vary significantly (p>0.05) among treatments. While in X. helleri, significant differences existed in the total wet weight gain, survival, food conversion ratio and specific growth rate among treatment groups (p<0.05). The counts of antibiotic resistant bacteria in fish gut increased with days of culture in all the treatments and the increase was more in antibiotic fed fishes. A reduction in the development of antibiotic resistance among the bacterial flora of fish gut was noticed in probiotic fed groups of C auratus and X. helleri. The results of the present study revealed that the effects of human probiotic on the growth, survival and disease resistance of ornamental fishes are variable and difficult to reproduce the similar effect on different species.