Marine Capture Fisheries from Western Indian Ocean: An Excellent Source of Proteins and Essential Amino Acids

Abstract

The Republic of Seychelles is located in Western-Central Indian Ocean, and marine capture fisheries play a key role in the country's economic and social life in terms of food security, employment, and cultural identity. The Seychellois are among the highest per capita fish-consuming people in the world, with a high reliance on fish for protein. However, the diet is in transition, moving towards a Western-style diet lower in fish and higher in animal meat and easily available, highly processed foods. The aim of this study was to examine and evaluate the protein content and quality of a wide range of marine species exploited by the Seychelles industrial and artisanal fisheries, as well as to further to assess the contribution of these species to the daily intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of 230 individuals from 33 marine species, including 3 crustaceans, 1 shark, and 29 teleost fish, were collected from the Seychelles waters during 2014-2016. All analyzed species had a high content of high-quality protein, with all indispensable amino acids above the reference value pattern for adults and children. As seafood comprises almost 50% of the consumed animal protein in the Seychelles, it is of particular importance as a source of essential amino acids and associated nutrients, and as such every effort to sustain the consumption of regional seafood should be encouraged.

Keywords: Small Island Developing States (SIDS); amino acid composition; essential nutrients; ocean food security; pelagic and reef species; protein.

Figure 1

Fishing locations of the 33 marine species on and around the Mahé Plateau, the Seychelles (Western Indian Ocean).

Figure 2

Protein and sum of essential amino acid (threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and histidine; tryptophan is denatured during acid hydrolysis and is thus not included) content (g/100 g) in species caught in the Seychelles waters.

Figure 3

Distribution of essential amino acids (mg/100 g) in species caught in the Seychelles waters. Thr, threonine; Val, valine; Met, methionine; Ile, isoleucine; Leu, leucine; Phe, phenylalanine; Lys, lysine; His, histidine (tryptophan is denatured during acid hydrolysis and is thus not included).

Figure 4

Taurine concentration (mg/100 g) in species caught in the Seychelles waters. Mean values are represented by an ×, median values are represented by −, the boxes cover the interquartile range, and the whiskers represent the minimum and maximum values without outliers. Outliers are plotted as individual points.

Figure 5

Percent of recommended dietary intake (RDI) of protein for an adult (65 kg), a pregnant woman in the 3rd trimester (65 kg), or for a 10-year-old child (30 kg), that is covered by one portion of 150 or 75 g, respectively. Recommended dietary intake values from Codex [29] and the WHO [28] are used.

Figure 6

Percent of recommended dietary intake of the essential amino acids for a 65 kg person by a portion of 150 g. Recommended dietary allowance values from the WHO [28] are used. Thr, threonine; Val, valine; Met, methionine; Ile, isoleucine; Leu, leucine; Phe, phenylalanine; Lys, lysine; His, histidine; (tryptophan is denatured during acid hydrolysis and is thus not included).