Abstract

The effects of season and sex on the nutritional quality of muscle types (lump crab meat-LCM, claw crab meat-CCM) of blue swim crab (Portunus pelagicus) and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) were investigated. The crabs were identified and their carapace width, carapace length and total weight were measured. Both crab species were observed to have high protein content in spring and low protein content in autumn. The levels of lipid content of both crab species were found to be similar and higher lipid contents in spring and winter, lower lipid contents in summer and autumn for both sexes and muscle types, especially in claw crab meat (CCM). Although both crabs’ species contain small amounts of fat, they are good sources of n-3 PUFA content (especially EPA and DHA) for all seasons regardless of sex and muscle types.