Pollution Research Paper

EFFECT OF FREEZE STORAGE AFTER DEGUTTING ON THE PRODUCTION OF TMA-N IN TWO SCIAENID FISHES JOHNIUS BELANGERII AND NIBEA MACULATA OF THE COAST OF PUDUCHERRY, INDIA.

A. GUNASINGH, A. ANTONIRAJ, V. HARIKARAN AND M. AMARNATH

Abstract

In this study an attempt has been made to assess the production of TMA-N in the Sciaenid fishes Johnius belangerii and Nibea maculata during cold storage. The impact of storing the fish with gut and after degutting on the production of TMA-N were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of TMA-N as an index for estimating the freshness of fish. The acceptability of the fishes sold in the local market was investigated in relation to the level of TMA-N in the fishes collected from the landing centre. Fishes collected from the landing centre were grouped as Gutted and Without Gut and stored in refrigeration at -4º C. The amount of TMA-N produced in the stored fish in increasing days of storage was determined bio-chemically. The increase of TMA-N was proportionately less in the early hours of storage and significantly increased in the final hours of storage during this study. The TMA-N content of fish stored after degutting was lower than the fish stored with gut. Significant proportion of the market samples had TMA-N content above the standard maximum acceptable limit. The present study documents the effectiveness of Trimethylamine-nitrogen in the estimation of the freshness of fish. This study further indicates that the current methods of fish harvesting, transporting, storage and retailing lack sufficient refrigeration.