抄録
The seasonal change in breaking strength and proximate composition of the muscle of cultured adult red seabream (two to three years old) was investigated through a year from March in 1995 to February in 1996. In male fish, the breaking strength significantly changed parallel to gonad-somatic index (GSI) for five months from March to July in the periods of maturating and spawning. The positive correlation was noticed between the breaking strength of the muscle and GSI. In female fish, the breaking strength also tended to vary along with GSI for five months from March to July, although not significantly. These results indicate that the seasonal change in firmness mainly depends upon the sexual maturation and spawning. The significant change in breaking strength was unobservable after July in male and female fish. As to proximate composition of the muscle, in both male and female fish, the crude protein content significantly changed through a year. In both male and female fish, the positive correlation was noticed between the crude protein content and the body weight. The water content also changed through a year in both male and female fish. No seasonal change in crude lipid content was observed in male and female fish. These results suggest that the seasonal change in meat quality of red seabream mainly depends on the change in quality and/or quantity of the muscle firmness caused by the sexual maturation and spawning.
