5.The chemical composition of sexually mature blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus, Linnaeus 1758) in the Mersin bay

The objective of the present study was to determine chemical composition of carapace meat of male and female mature blue swimmer crabs, Portunus pelagicus, caught in the Mersin Bay. The levels of protein ranged from 20.75% to 23.44%, lipid from 1.13% to 1.43%, and water from 73.31% to 76.04%, total mineral substance (TMS) from 1.81% to 2.10% for blue swim mer crabs. Statistically, carapace meat of female blue swimmer crabs had higher protein level, and lower lipid, water and TMS levels than those of the male (p<0.05). In the present study, the major fatty acids found in blue swimmer crabs were palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), oleic acid (C18:1 n9), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3). Saturated fatty acid (SFA) level in the carapace meat of male blue swimmer crabs (24.94%) was similar female blue swimmer crabs (24.72%). Furthermore, the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) changed from 23.69% to 26.52% and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from 43.19% to 45.98% for blue swimmer crabs. Statistically, there were no significant differences in palmitic acid and stearic acid levels in carapace meat of male and female blue swimmer crabs (P>0.05). Besides, statistically, there were significant differences in palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, arachi donic acid, EPA and DHA levels in carapace meat of male and female blue swimmer crabs (P<0.05). EPA levels of female blue swimmer crabs (21.09%) were higher than male blue swimmer crabs (20.56%). Furthermore, DHA levels of male blue swimmer crabs (14.57%) were higher than female blue swimmer crabs (12.41%). The PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 was de tected as 1.77, 0.28 for female blue swimmer crabs whereas it was 1.82, 0.27 for male blue swimmer crabs, respectively. In the present study, it was observed that carapace meat of blue swimmer crabs were contaminated with Cu and Zn.