The effect of sex, season and gametogenic cycle on gonad yield, biochemical composition and quality traits of Paracentrotus lividus along the North Atlantic coast of Portugal.

ABSTRACT: Sea urchin population harvest in the North Atlantic coast of Portugal was characterized in terms of gonad yield, nutritional composition and important market-related traits, over one reproductive cycle (March 2016 to March 2017). Most of the quality attributes showed a seasonal variation strongly dependent on sea urchin sex. Maximum gonad yield (18%) was observed in March 2017. A single spawning event occurred between May and July. Gonads are rich sources of protein (12-18% WW) with low fat content (≤6% WW), that increase during the gametogenic stages of recovery and growing (November-December). Polyunsaturated fatty acids were the dominant class in both sexes (4.2-14.7 mg.g^-1 WW), being preferentially accumulated in females. Total gonads carotenoid varied seasonally, with the h

SUBMITTER: Rocha F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6395811 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature