Nutritional value of seven demersal fish species from the North Atlantic Azores archipelago

Valorization of azorean demersal fish species must focus quality. This study aims to assess the nutritional value, sodium content and fat quality index of seven commercially relevant demersal fish species from the Azores Region: blackspot seabream (<i>Pagellus bogaraveo</i>), blackbelly rosefish (<i>Helicolenus dactylopterus</i>), splendid alfonsino (<i>Beryx splendens</i>), alfonsino (<i>Beryx decadactylus</i>), forkbeard (<i>Phycis phycis</i>), offshore rockfish (<i>Pontinus kuhlii</i>) and common mora (<i>Mora moro</i>). Moisture, ash, crude protein, total sugars, total fat, fatty acid profile, sodium and salt content were assessed. B. splendends, <i>P. kuhlii</i> and <i>P. bogaraveo</i> presented the highest values for crude protein, while <i>P. kuhlii</i> and <i>B. decadactylus</i> presented the biggest value for crude fat. All species were classified as lean. Sodium and salt contents were higher in <i>H. dactylopterus</i>. This study showed the high nutritional value presented in azorean demersal fish species. Nevertheless, <i>B. splendens</i>, <i>H. dactylopterus</i>, <i>P. kuhlii</i> and <i>B. decadactylus</i> revealed higher values of lipid quality indices.