Paper Title
Estimation of Fatty Acid Profile and Proximate Composition of Canthidermis Maculata (Bloch, 1786) (Tetradontiformes , Balistidae ) Collected From Southern Coast of Sri Lanka

Abstract
Rough oceanic triggerfish Canthidermis maculata (Bloch, 1786) belongs to family Balistidae and has year round availability as the main by-catch species in tuna fishery industry. Due to high availability and low market value, this species gain low demand in the local market. Further, the society believes that the taste of this fish species is similar to chicken and therefore chicken dishes are prepared with the substitution of C. maculata. Due to lack of knowledge gap of nutritional value of this species, the objective of current study was to estimate nutritional components of C. maculata in order to popularize it as a food source to fulfill nutritional requirement of the society. Fish samples were collected from fish landing sites of three regions (Mirissa, Dondra and Tangalle) in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Samples from commercially demanded fish species Cephalopholis sonnerati (Tomato Hind) and chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) were analyzed in order to compare the proximate values of C. maculata. Samples were collected from three individuals of each species and each sample was analyzed in triplicates. Fatty acid profile of C. maculata was determined by Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) Test with gas chromatographic technique. Analyses revealed that flesh samples of C. maculata contained important fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid in high amounts with other essential fatty acids. Moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid, and carbohydrate contents and energetic values were estimated according to standard protocols and results were compared with C. sonnerati and chicken. Except Lipid, Moisture and Carbohydrate contents there were no significant differences were observed for other proximate components between chicken and C. maculata. Significant differences were observed for ash and carbohydrate contents between C. maculata and C. sonnerati (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that information gathered on consumptive values of C. maculata considering high protein, low fat, healthy fatty acid are strong enough to change the public perception on this species and increase the demand in the local market. Keywords - Triggerfish, Canthidermis maculate, Proximate composition, Fatty acid profile, Sri Lanka