Changes in the Quality of Lanternfish Benthosema pterotum during Transportation at Ambient Temperatures

In this study, we examined to what extent the quality of lanternfish Benthosema pterotum changes during the transportation at the ambient temperature of the southern coast of Iran. For this purpose, trend of pH, total viable count (TVC), total volatile nitrogen (TVN), peroxide value (PV) and moisture changes were determined within the time intervals of 0, 2, 4, 8. 16 and 24 hours after catching the fishes at 23.6° ± 28°c (ambient temperature). After 24 hours the range of changes in these parameters were: pH 6.83 - 7.54, moisture 72.78 - 77.99 %, TVN 20.2 - 263.2 mg/100 gr, PV 0 - 19.97 mg/kg and TVC 49 - 2 x1.012 cfu/g. The results revealed that the lanternfish must be delivered to the fish meal plants within 8 hours. Within this period of time, the quality of lanternfishes as raw material for fish meal production were acceptable. PH, Moisture, TVN, PV, and TVC of the samples after 8 hours were 6.9 - 7.02, 74.18 - 74.68%, 40.06 - 42.04 mg/100 gr, 3.9 - 4.8 mg/kg and 106 - 107 cfu/g res.....