Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Marine Fishes

Tee E Siong, Siti M. Shahid, R. Kuladevan, Young Swee Ing and Khor Swan Choo

and the White Pomfret, with fat content ranging from 4 to 6%.
The outstanding example is the Longtail Shad (Ikan Terubok;
item no. 12), with an exceptionally high fat content of 23.0%.
As with the macro nutrients, mineral and vitamin contents
of the marine fishes studied also show similar general trends,
with a few occasional extreme values. There is, however, greater
variability among the various species for these nutrients than
those of the proximate composition.
The absence of large variations in the results obtained
suggests that there are no distinctive differences in nutrient
composition between the different families of fishes studied.
The results also indicate that there would be no basis for
grouping the fishes in terms of qUality, based on the nutrients
studied. Although fatty acid composition and protein quality
have not been determined, one does not expect to fmd drJlllatic
differences. Hence, the nutrient composition of the "lower
quality" and cheaper fishes such as ikan kembong are not
inferior to that of the more expensive fishes such as the
pomfrets. Other characteristics of the fishes, such as texture of
the meat and taste, may result in higher demand for the latter
fishes and contribute to the much higher prices tagge:d onto
these fishes.

his communication presents the results of a study of the

nutrient composition of marine fishes commonly available
in the Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya markets, Malaysia.
Analyses were carried out on duplicate samples of each fish.
All analyses were performed according to the methods ~given
in the Laboratory Manual compiled by the Division of Human
Nutrition, Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia.
A total of 50 species of marine fishes belonging to 31 families
were analysed. Results obtained are presented in Table 1. The
fishes are grouped according to their respective families. The
common name of the fish is first given, followed by the scientific
name. The last line, within parenthesis, gives the name of the
fish in Bahasa Malaysia.
Since the names of the fishes in Bahasa Malaysia are familiar
to investigators in the country, these are separately tabulated in
Table 2, arranged in alphabetical order. The last column of the
table indicates the item number of each fish as it is tabulated
in Table 1, to enable easy reference to its nutrient composition.
There does not appear to be large variations in the proximate
composition of the fishes Percentages of refuse in the different
varieties of marine fishes studied are faidy dose, the m<ljority
having only 50% as the edible portion. Moisture and protein
content of these fishes are also seen to be fairly similar, with
a few exceptions. Mineral ash is also seen to be rather similar
for all the fishes studied.
Of the nutrients commonly grouped under proximate
composition, fat content shows the most variation amongst the
fishes studied. Most of the fishes have a fat content ranging from
0.1 to 2%, commonly encountered in marine fishes. Some of
the fishes studied are found to have a higher fat content, e.g.
the Gizzard Shad, Bluetail Mullet, Catfish Eel, Indian Mackerel,

Acknowledgements
The ASEAN Sub-Committee on Protein provided financial
assistance for the study, through the ASEAN Protein Project, and
from July 1984, through the ASEAN Food Habits Project. The
authors thank Dr T. W. Lim, Director of the Institute for .Medical
Research and Chairman of the ASEAN National Sub-Committee
on Protein, Malaysia, for permitting the results of the study to
be published.

Table 1.

Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Marine Fishes

Composition of Nutrie:nts in 100 g Edible: Portion

Item
Name of Fish

Rc:fuSl:
In

Proximlue: Composition

as

No.

Pur

Energy

M.olsture:

Protdn

K Cal

B....USTiDAE
1 Sram' Trtggerfish
Abailsrcs stdlans
(jebong)
C:'.ESIODlDAE
Ycllowt.il Fusilier
C.esro erl'throgasler
(Delah)

",

801

-1,8

""

oj

~Pb~

Iron

Sodlum

mg

80

~2

13

Total

A Thia

AKorbic

nlum

Reti
nol

Caroteoe:

Ac:tJriry

mine:

liboflavin

Nladn

Add

mg

mg

ug

ug

ug

mg

mg

DIll

ma

o~

i"3

311

23

23

0.01

003

23S

0.4

-I"

48~

19

19

0.05

0.16

29

41

234

0."

85

'ISS

21

21

(J06

0.16

33

Fat

Ash

Ii< 'i

01

~3

21 i

08

14

21

09

()

ChllKd

VItam.1n.8

M.lne:rals

Carbo
hydrate

dum

phorus
mg

Pota

0.6

ORA~GlDAE

-I

Dul. ladyfish. Moonfish

Trachmotus hlochll
(Snor-Snor)

466

95

Halmil Scad
MCg:llaspls cordvla
(Cinearul

580

10)

"\"

21.0

10

29

14

64

2'7'":'

2S

"2

263

29

29

0.05

0.25

36

'-.8

100

"6."

208

19

II

46

187

0.6

B2

217

27

27

003

0.20

34

5 Malabar Trnallv

(ltimbal)

The authors are researchers in the Divison ofHuman Nutrition, Institute

for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, M3iaysia.

Asean Food Journal Vol. 3, NO.2 June 1987

67

Table 1.

Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Marine Fishes (continued)

Composition of Nutrl~nts In 100 g Edlbl~ Portion

R~fuK

Itc1D
Nam~

of Fish

In

as

NO.

Pro:dmat~

Composition
MIn~ral5
Vitamins
~---r----.---~----.----4----'----'r----r----r----r----+----~----~--~----~--------'----~
Mols
Cal
Ph os
So
PoU
R~tl
Ca.ro Total A Thia
Rlbo
Ascorbic
dum
phorus
Iron
dlum
!slum
nol

KCal

One-Finle! Scad
Selar (Arule) male
(Selar Gelek)

SO I

93

Queenftsh
Chorinemus Inan
(Talang)

51 ;

Trevall~'

CARCHARHIt\!DAE
10 Dog Shark
ScollOdon sorrakowah
(Yu Pam)
CHIROCENTRIDAE
11 Wolf Herring
Chirocentrus dorab
(Pmng- Pmng)

mg

mg

11

02

13

11

u6

16

1-16

103

I,

80

521

106

I,

It>a

65 'i

lUi

216

: I

219

;0.0

101

.: 1.8

I,

281

18.;

i I

118

2 I 'j

1-1

I,

III

1-1

II

0,

I,

0,

Yellow!all Scad

Cmnx (Alepes)

djedwba (Pelm)

Yellow-banded
Setaroides
(Sdar

mg

CLCPEIDAE
12 Longtail Shad

~;,6

101

mg

II

519

mg

ug

,00

,\(1

81

ug

ug

mg

18

OH

1-1

08

It>

()-I

mg

i8

18

O(l;;

,00

12

12

lIlH

26

198

mg

,I

:191

mg

110

II

t)tl;;

22.

11

Hilsa (Clupe;a) macrura

(Terubok)
13 Round
Dussumlcria
(Tamban Bulat)
H

:;09

8;

Slander Shad
Ilish. donga!a
(Behak \lm)

() 29

lH"

"'

2,

I"

III

CY:'iOGLOSSID,\E

l'i

Long Tongue Sole

Cynoglo\sul lmgua
(LiJah Pa,llr)

;9.;

DREP"':'iID,\E
16 SpolleJ Sicklefi,h

80.0

92

180

198

,?06

'98

III

':99

n!

PI-I

III

I)'I}

I)"

,;

Ii

Drepane

!Dat:n

DOROSmIlO,\E
1- (;l7lJru "hJU

-; I

') 9

80.6

o~

2W

08

13-1

162

0.6

1)0

28

220

04

-116

1-1

I,

020

I2

19;

0)

301

16

16

00-;

14

21:1

06

99

12

12

0111

21

AnoJomo>!Oma

chacunda

(Sdangao

EI'GRAL'UOAE
18 Ancho\'\

a 02

009

1.2

[) 10

2()

SlOlephorus
commersonll
(Bills Temb.g.)
LATIDAE
19 Giant Sea Perch
La!es Calcarifer
(Slakap)
20 Sea Perch
Lates Calcarifer
(Siakap)

LEIOGNA THIDAE
Greater PonyflSh
Leiognathus equulus

(Kikek Gedebang)

21

LUTIANIDAE
22 Malabar Red Snapper
Lu!ianus malabancus
(/.Imh)

'i5 S

83

109

4)

-8 I

-98

496

195

01

10

20 I

31

02

193

20.8

23

01

I .3

26

216

03

81

008

o 10

210

1.9

01

II

21

189

05

80

003

008

88

20 I

03

1.3

I :I

80

2')0

os

8S

00-1

(j

93

20.2

13

21 ~

0.3

53

00;

00,

49,'

104

23, Mangrove Red Snapper

Lutianus
argentimacu latus
Oenahak)

48,3

102

24 Russell's Snapper
lu!ianU5 russelli

(Tan<b)

';8.8

25, Sharptooth Bass

Pristipomoides !ypus
(Kerisi BaJi)

517

~S9

19

19

:I }

}O

68

Asean Food Journal Vol. 3, NO.2 June 1987

Table 1.

Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Marine Fishes (continued)

Composition of Nutrients In 100 g Edible Pordon

Item
Name of Flsb
No_

Refuse
In

Proximate Composition

Energy

Molsture

KCaI

:l5

Purchased
%

Vlwnl.ns

Minerals

Carbohydrate

Ash

Cal
dum

Pho5
phorus

Iron

Sodium

mg

mg

mg

mg

Pou
nlum!

mg

Retl
nol

Carotcne

Total A
Activity

Thi2.

mine

Rlboflavin

Nbcln

Ascorbic
Acid

ug

ug

ug

mg

mg

ulg

mg

0~3

30

.\ILGILIDAE
19 -;

66

188

0.9

09

11

198

120

os

211

0-;

II

21

1.\

19 "

",

1)9

16

01

I))

1\

19 -I

1"

)-1

1-1

I~

19

12

1-;

21 '

16

1-1

80

0':;

81

196

02

8"

200

08

Asean Food Journal Vol. 3, NO.2 June. 1987

01

29

oOJ

009

31

os

-II

001

oO-l

06

10

61

1-1

'50

1-1

30

U I"

-I P

001

(] 10

00-;

0.06

010

016

008

01'1

006

031

005

015

16

010

022

" I

216

101

I ...

1<)

91

19

\2

13

13

002

004

I4

010

16

05

"6

10

10

003

20~

0)

66

20

20

o 13

l-l

I':

109

180

222

16

00.\

0.6

18-1

I3

oos

-;60

10

0-;

0.6

29

')8

268

0'1

-80

2I

0-;

-9 I

90

013

219

1\

19 -I

00:1

286

169

31

21

;1

II

i -l

8'

200

31

03

YiO

18

IS

OO~

005

20

0.'1

335

16

16

004

0.04

23

0.4

381

18

006

015

25

69

Table 1.
Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Marine Fishes (continued)

Composition of Nurrie:nls In 100 II Edibk Portion

Ite:m
Name: of Fish
No.

Rdusc:
Proximate: Composition
Mlne:rab
Vitamins
in
I-----r------r---;---.--+--.,.....-----.-------,----,-----,---I--~...-----------l
as
MolsProCarooCal
PhosSoPOIaRe:IITotal A
RiboAscorbic
PurEne:rgy
ture:
tdn
Fat
hydrat(
Ash
dum
phoNs
Iron
dlum
sslum
nol
flavin
Niacin
Acid
+---------1
chased

1---+--+--t---+--+--I---+--+-----1---+--+--K Cal

mg

mg

mg

mg

mg

r-------~!.--~--+---4--~--+---4--~--+---+--+--~--+-~+--~~~-~4-~---~-------STRO~1.~ TElDAE
-;~

Black P,lmlrel

1-;

-;-;{/

:26

() 28

:8

-;2

II bO

OIl)

: 9

[) 19

00<)

I'!

00-;

o OH

20

Para'.tromaleG' nlg<:r
!B'Jwal Httami
-;b

ChineSe Pomfrel
P.mpu, chmen",
IBaw.1 TJmhakl
19 \

\X'htte Pomfrel

-;i'

I,)

1~2

It>

IH9

06

Pampu, Jf!\enieU'
:BawJi PUIehl
nCHY~l

;M

G/.n!

RIDAE
~eJ Cal rhh

.;-

is \

I'

19

TRICHIlRID.\E
-;'!

{} 1

I'll

RIDDonfL,h

12

2RO

Oil

009

I'

2-10

00..

U.06

Table 2.

Lis1 of Marine Fishes Analysed

Malay name

Common name

Family

Scientific name

It(~m No.
in Table I

1.

Ikan Aya Kurik

Little Tuna, Bonita

SCOMBRIDAE

Euthynnus affinis

38

2.

Ikan Bawal Hitam

Black Pomfret

STROMATEIDAE

Parasrromareus niger

45

),

Ikan Bawal Tambak

Chinese Pomfret

STROMATEIDAE

Pam pus chinensis

46

White Pomfrct

STROMA TEIDAE

Pam pus argenteus

4;

Valamugil seheIi

26
14

-L

Ibn Bawal Puteh

5.

Ikan Belanak

Bluetail Mullet

MUGILIDAE

6.

Ikan Beliak Mata

Slender Shad

CLL'PEIDAE

Ilisha elongata

AnchO\'Y
Sih'er \X'hiting

ENGRAULIDAE

Stolephorus

SILLAGINIDAE

Sillago sihama

42

Trumpeter Whiting

SILLAGINIDAE

Sillago maculata

43

Ikan Cincaru

Hairtail Scad

CARANGIDAE

Megalaspis cordyla

Ikan Bilis Tcmbaga

8.

Ikan Bulus-bulusl

9.

[kan Bulus-buiusl

commer~onii

18

Pun tong Damar

Pun tong Damar
10.
11.

Ikan Daun Baharu

Spotted Sickle fish

DREPANIDAE

Drepane punctata

12.

Ikan Delah

Yellowtail Fuisilier

CAESIODIDA

Caesio erythrogaster

16
2

13.

Ibn Dengkis

Streaked Rabbitfish

SIGANIDAE

Siganus javus

41

14.

Ikan Gelama Kling

Brown Jcwfish

SCIAENIDAE

Sciaena dussumieri

15.

Ikan Gelama Papan

Silver Jewfish

SCIAENIDAE

Johnius (Preudosciaena)

34
35

16.

Ikan Gerut-Gerut

Silver Grunter

PClMADASYIDAE

Pomadasys hasta

!I.

Ikan ]ahan

Giant Sea Catfish

TACHYSURIDAE

Nctuma thalassina

18.

Ikan ]ebong

Starry

BALISTIDAE

Abalistes stellar is

Ikan Jenahal<
Ikan Kacang-Kacang

.\langrove Red Snapper

LCTIANIDAE

Lutianus argentimaculatus

Blunt-jawed Sea Pike

SPHYRAENIDAE

Sphyraena obtusata

44

:1.

Ikan Kaci

Painted Sweetlip

PLECTORHYNCHIDAE

Spilotichthys pictus

28

:2.

Ikan Kembong

Indian Mackerel

SCOMBRIDAE

Rastrelliger kanaguna

37

Ikan Kerapu

Coral Cod

SERRANIDAE

Epinephelus sexfasciatus

39

Ikan Kerisi

Japanese Threadfin Bream

NEMIPTERIDAE

Nemipterus japonicus

27

soldado

\9.
~O.

3.
4.

'0

32
48
1

23

Asean Food Journal Vol. 3, No.2 June 198-:'

Table 2.

List of Marine Fishes Analysed (continued)

Item No.
in Table 1

Malay name

Common name

25.
26.

Ibn Kerisi Bali

2'"'.

28.

Ikan Kurau

Threadfin

29.

Ikan Lidah Pasir

Long Tongue Sole

30.

Ibn "1erah

Malabar Red Snapper

LCTIANIDAE

Lurianus malabaricus

31.
32.
33.

Ikan Nyior-Nyior

Dan. Ladyfish. Moonfish

CARANGTIDAE

Trachinorus blochii

Ikan Parang-Parang

\X'olf Herring

CHIROCENTRIDAE

Chirocentrus dorab

II

Ikan Pari l\:yiru

Sting Ray

TRYGONIDAE

Dasyatis zugei

3'+

Ikan Pelata

Yellowtail Scc.d

CARANGIDAE

(;Hanx (Alepes) djeddaba

50
8

35.
36

Ikan Rambai

;"1alabar Trcvally

CARANGIDAE

Carangoides malabaricus

lkan Sabelah

Indian Halibut

PSETTODIDAE

Psettodes erumei

5
33
I

Family

Scientific name

SharptOorh Bass

LCTIANIDAE

Pristipomoides typus

2)

Ikan Kenang

Greasy Grouper

SERRANIDAE

Epinephelus taU\'ina

-10

Ikan Kikek Gedebang

Greater Pomfish

LEIOGNATHIDAE

Leiognarhus equulus

21

POL YNEMIDAE

Pl)!ynemus indicus

CYNOGLOSSIDAE

Cynoglossus lingua

15
22
3

~:.

Ikan Selangat

Gizzard Shad

DOROSOMIDAE

Anodontostoma chacunda

38.

lkan Sclar Gelek

One-Finler Scad

CARANGIDAE

Selar (Atule) matc

39.

Ikan Selar Kuning

Yellow-banded Tre\-ally

CARANGIDAE

Sclaroides leptOlepis

40.
41.

Ikan Sembilang

Catfish Eel

PLOTOSIDAE

Plorosus canius

Ikan Senangin

Threadfin

POL YNEMIDAE

Eleuthcronema tetradactylum

-i2.

Ikan Siakap

Giant Sea Perch

LATIDAE

Lares calcarifer

19

20

30

-i3.

Ikan Siakap

Sea Perch

LA TIDAE

Lares calcarifer

-H.

Ikan Taiang

Queenfish

CARANGIDAE

Chorinemus Iysan

-i5.

Ikan Tamban Bular

Round Herring

CLCPEIDAE

Dussumieria hasselti

46.

Ikan Tanda

Russell's Snapper

LUTIANIDAE

Lutianus russelli

13
2,+
36

4~.

Ikan Tenggiri Barang

Barred Spanish Mackerel

SCOl>lEROMORIDAE

Scomberomorus commersoni

-i8.

Ikan Terubok

Longrail Shacl

CLCPEIDAE

Hi/sa (Clupea) macrura

12

49.

Ikan Timah

Ribbonfish

TRICHICRIDAE

Trichiurus haumela

-19

50.

Ikan Yu Pasir

Dog Shark

CARCHARHINIDAE

Scolidon sorrakowah

10

Asean Food Journal Vol.

3, No. 2 June:: 1987

71