FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF HERRING (CLUPEA-HARENGUS L) LARVAE OFF WESTERN NORWAY

Herring larvae (Clupea harengus L.) were collected off western Norway in April 1991, 1992, and 1993. The larvae were length measured, staged and analysed individually for fatty acid content. Both absolute and r elative amounts of individual fatty acids were used as input in princi pal component analyses (PCA), and the results revealed significant siz e and stage specific trends in composition. These differences were att ributed to the same fatty acids all three years. Qualitative differenc es in the fatty acid composition of larvae with above average and belo w average total fatty acid content within respective developmental sta ges indicate possible maternal effects and effects of previous feeding history. The efforts on using fatty acid profiles as nutritional indi ces of the individual herring larvae will therefore be continued.