Abstract

Dogtooth grouper Epinephelus caninus is a subtropical species widely distributed in the Eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to Angola, rare in the Canary Islands and not common in the Mediterranean. The information available on the chemical composition and meat yield of the dogtooth grouper being harvested from the Iskenderun bay is very limited. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine to meat yield, protein and proximate composition of dogtooth grouper E. caninus. The investigation on Dogtooth Grouper, E. caninus was carried out on 51 specimens collected from Iskenderun Bay, Northern east Mediterranean Sea between November 2015-September 2016. Samples were provided from the TUBITAK project (214O575). Groupers were transported to the laboratory and muscle tissues (fillets) were below the dorsal fin were taken as the samples. A composite sample for each fish was prepared and homogenized in a food processor and test portions were stored at -20 oC until required. Analysis of meat yield was based on the calculation of the ratio between the body weight and the weight of organs or body parts such as head, skin and internal organs. Average meat yield was found to be 56.63 %, internal organs weight was 4.80% and head weight was 30.65% of the body weight. Weight ratios of fin and skin of the fish to body weight were found as 4.36% and 3.21% respectively. Also, the moisture, protein, lipid and ash content of the fish samples were found to be 77.03%, 19.46%, 2.35% and 1.10% respectively