A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON FRESHNESS OF FISH AT LANDING CENTRE AND IN MARKET OF A PERI-URBAN AREA OF CENTRAL NORTH REGION OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was carried out to compare the freshness of fisher folk's catch in the landing centre and in the market of a peri-urban area named Puliamari under Mymensingh district in the central north part of Bangladesh. The fish were collected from the landing centre and from the fish market where the fisher folk usually sell their catch. Freshness tests in terms of sensory, biochemical and bacteriological assessment were performed. Almost all the results obtained from the assessment, it was revealed that the fisher folk's catch is of excellent grade at the landing centre which remains so even after transportation to the market. In the samples from landing centre and that of market the average grade of fish is < 2 which means excellent. The non protein nitrogen (NPN) value of the samples from landing centre and market ranged between 0.04-0.07% and 0.05-0.07% respectively. Total volatile Base Nitrogen (TVB-N) remained below 10% in all the fish samples. Bacterial count remained in the usual range recommended for very fresh fish. Coliform, pathogens and spoilage bacteria were not detectable in this study. The cause may be that the water is reasonably clean and unpolluted, the fisher folk keep their catch in very good condition in the boat, fishing hour is reasonably shorter and marketing is quicker. Since the distance between landing center and the market is only 3-4 Km, hence during transportation the freshness of the fish does not deteriorate significantly.