April 2013 Vol. 1 No. 2

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Full Length Research Paper

Estimation of fillet yield for four tropical freshwater fish species

Adeyemo A. O.

Department of Fisheries/Livestock Production Technology, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, P.M.B. 071, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

E-mail:  text2abiodun@yahoo.com

Accepted March 15, 2013

Abstract

Filleting was carried out on four different species of tropical fresh water fishes namely- Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus logifilis, Synodontis schall and Heterotis niloticus. The fillet yield was calculated as percentages relative to whole fish and the inedible parts. An opinion poll was also drawn on the acceptance of fillets by the faculty members. Heterotis niloticus had the highest fillet percentage of 59.20; Synodontis schall recorded the lowest fillet percentage of 41.37 and the highest inedible parts of 54.73% while Heterotis niloticus had the highest fillet percentage among all the species. Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus longifilis had almost similar fillet yield of 52.50% and 52.70% respectively. All the fish species are favoured fish that are found in commercial quantity all year round in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The result of the opinion poll showed that majority (65.63%) preferred whole fish while 18.75% were indifferent and 15.62% preferred fillets. The fish fillet product may take some time for it to be accepted in this part of the world but it will continue to be a value added product for exportation.

Keywords: Carcass, Fish fillets, Value chain, Fish processing