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The liver lipid fatty acid profiles of seven Indian Ocean shark species

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 26, pages 171–175 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

We have assessed the fatty acid profiles of the livers from seven shark species (Carcharias taurus (raggedtooth/grey nurse), Carcharhinus limbatus (blacktip), Carcharhinus obscurus (dusky), Carcharhinus leucas (Zambezi/bull), Sphyrna lewini (scalloped hammerhead), Carcharhinus brevipinna (spinner), and Galeocerdo cuvieri (tiger)) found off the east coast of South Africa. While there was generally little variation between the species, Carcharias taurus showed fatty acid profiles that would be most favourable in human nutrition, in that it showed both low saturated (SFA) (37.1%) and high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (26.6%) levels. However, all species showed profiles rich in PUFA, thus utilising the liver oil from sharks caught as part of the bycatch when fishing for teleost species would avoid unnecessary wastage of a potentially valuable resource.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Wits Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Bruce Davidson

  2. Natal Sharks Board, Umhlanga, South Africa

    Geremy Cliff

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  1. Bruce Davidson
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  2. Geremy Cliff
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Davidson, B., Cliff, G. The liver lipid fatty acid profiles of seven Indian Ocean shark species. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 26, 171–175 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025447718625

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025447718625

  • elasmobranch
  • hepatic oils

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