Abstract

Proximate composition analysis for crude lipid content, crude protein content, moisture content, total ash content and dry weight of Dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea): a small pelagic fish which constitutes one of the main fish species in Lake Victoria was determined from selected beaches: Paga, Dunga, Rota, Usari and Nduru around Lake Victoria-Kenya. This was done with a view to provide nutritional data to guide food processing, industrial exploitation, preservation and consumption of the fish. On a wet weight basis (wwb), proximate composition values were established as crude protein content, kjedahl and biuret (19.1 - 21.7% and 1.93 - 5.80 mg/ml respectively), lipid content by Dyer and Bligh and Soxhlet (3.87 - 7.78 and 1.77 - 3.40% respectively), ash content (1.88 - 4.38%), ash content on a dry weight basis was (10 - 14.58%) and moisture content of (72.83 - 76.90%). Analysis of these results showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.01) in crude protein content, crude lipid content, total ash content and moisture content of Dagaa from the five landing sites. Hence, the inherent variations in Dagaa collected from the different landing sites were attributed to the difference in geographical locations of the sites. Dagaa was classified as a fatty fish (fat content >2%) based on Dyer and Bligh method. The high protein, ash and lipid content of Dagaa make it a nutritionally dense fish.

Key words: Dagaa, Lake Victoria, proximate composition.