Characteristics of meal and oil prepared from marine fishes

Abstract

Fish meal is a highly concentrated nutritious feed supplement consisting of proteins, minerals, vitamins of B group and other vitamins. It is prepared by cooking, pressing, drying and grinding the skeletal remains along with the adhering proteinaceous tissues of fish from filleting or canning operations. Traditional fish meal production in India is from the sun dried fish collected from various drying centers' all along the coast. Fish meal has high protein content which enables its use as an additive in animal feed. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has, as early as in 1959, laid down specifications of fish meal. Later, the Indian Standard specifications for fish meal as livestock feed IS: 4307-1983 was introduced (BIS, 1983). The yield of oil depends on the raw material used and process employed. Fish oil contains essential omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Windsor (2001) reviewed the manufacture, storage, composition and use of fish meal and oil.