INFLUENCE OF BODY PROTEIN-CONTENT ON DEVIATION OF FISH BODY DENSITY IN CULTURED RED-SEA BREAM

To clarify the influence of body composition on the deviation of fish body density in cultured red sea bream, the contents of fat, water, pr otein, and ash in whole body were analyzed after measuring the body de nsity of living fish in 39 specimens of cultured and wild fish. A sign ificant, negative correlation was found between the fish body density and the body fat content, and a significant, positive correlation was found between the deviation of fish body density from the regression l ine and the density of remaining matter, without fat and water from wh ole body. On the other hand, a significant, negative correlation was f ound between the density of remaining matter and the body protein cont ent though no significant correlation was found between that of remain ing matter and body ash content. Therefore, it is suggested that the d eviation of fish body density from the regression line between the fis h body density and the body fat content is caused by the body protein content, or muscle quantity, in the whole body.