LAUSR

This study was designed for comparison of biochemical and fatty acid composition of cultured meagre (Argyrosomus regius) in off-shore cage system in two different regions of Turkey. For this purpose, meagre with an average weights of 513.80±52.40 g and 726.52±116.19 g were obtained from commercial fish farms in South (Mediterranean) and North (Black Sea) of Turkey, respectively. No significant differences were detected among the fish originated from the Mediterranean (MSO) and the Blacksea (BSO) in terms of body compositions (p 0.05). The fatty acid compositions of MSO and BSO fish showed significantly differences (p>0.05). The fatty acids such as SFA, PUFA, C16:0 (PA), C23:0 (MT), C20:3n-3 (ETA), C22:6n-3 (DHA), n-3 and n3/n6 were higher in MSO than BSO. Whereas, the fatty acids such as MUFA, n-6, C18:1n-9 (OLA), C20:1n-9 (EA), C22:1n-9 (ESA), C18:2n-6 (LA) and C18:3n-6 ( -ALA) were higher in BSO fish than MSO fish. However, no difference was detected in the C20:5n-3 (EPA) of fish from both regions. EPA was identified as 3.30±0.05% for MSO and 3.38±0.05% for BSO. No differences were detected in the other fatty acids between two regions (p<0.05). In conclusion, despite the differences in fatty acid compositions of the cultured fish in both regions, high levels of EPA and DHA as well as favorable proportions of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids showed that meagre was valuable food for human nutrition.