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 100 g) during January-April. Protein, fat and ash content of P. javanicus was higher (P 100 g) during S3 (September-December). Protein content was higher (P 500 g) size group. Fat content of the L. bata was higher (P 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.