Vol. 9, Special Issue 4, Part C (2024)

Author(s): Shadab Masud and Chandana Haldar

Abstract: Protein, fat and minerals are the basic concern of nutritional requirement of human population, especially for the children and in context, small indigenous fish species (SIS) which are usually not very attractive commodities of fish market could be an attractive proposal to look forward. This low value content of fish market could be employed as food supplement. Therefore, the main objective of this study would be to determine the proximate composition and mineral content of locally available SIS to estimate their nutritional status, for this AOAC method was followed. Under present work two SIS (C. straitus, G. giuris) have been investigated for their nutritional compositions. In the present investigations the percentage of moisture, protein, fat and ash of C. straitus, was 7.25%, 64.91%, 21.18% and 17.82% respectively while in G. giuris it was 7.76%, 68.8%, 13.96% and 13.76% respectively. The values of Ca and P of dried C. straitus, were 5.77% and 2.59% respectively and dried G. giuris had 3.87% Ca and 2.3% P. From the nutritional point of view, present study shows that both the SIS are good source of protein, lipids and minerals. These fishes may be a potential and alternate source of IMCs and will be useful for the development of value-added products for human consumption as well as formulation of quality feed for farm animals. Incorporation of small quantities of SIS as food supplement can substantially improve the biological value of the diet and can contribute to significant improvement in nutritional security.