The Proximate Composition and the Nutritional Value of Some Sea Cucumber Species Inhabiting the Sudanese Red Sea

Abstract

Some biochemical studies (protein, fat, moisture and ash) were done on three species of holothurians namely Holothuria scabra, Actinopyga echinites and Holothuria atra, which were collected from Abu Hashish and Kilo Tammania areas in Sudanese Red Sea. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in moisture, ash and protein content of the air-dried and processed animals. However, a non-significant difference (p>0.05) in fat content is encountered. Differences in moisture and fat content of H. atra collected from the two sites are insignificant while the difference in protein and ash contents are significant. All the measured contents in A. echinites are assumed not to differ significantly between the two areas except in their fat content.

Keywords: holothurians, sea cucumber, biochemical, Red Sea, Sudan