In this study, seasonal variations of fatty acid amounts in muscle tissues ofCapoeta caelestiswere investigated. We have found that the ω3 contents ofC. caelestis in spring, summer, autumn and winter were 17.43%, 15.29%, 17.54%, 13.63% in female and 16.96%, 19.25%, 18.66%, 14.76% in male, respectively. The amounts of ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher than those of ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The eicosapentaenoic acid amounts were always higher than the docosahexaenoic acid amounts inC. caelestis. Female C. caelestis presented a higher amount of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid than males. The amounts of docosahexaenoic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid varied from 0.44% to 0.56% in females and from 0.45% to 0.59% in males in different seasons. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid in female muscles changed from 10.34% to12.51% and in male muscles from 11.16% to 15.41%, respectively. It was seen that the ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acid amounts ofC. caelestis reached the highest level in summer and autumn in both sexes. Therefore, it can be concluded that the nutritional value of this fish is better in the both seasons with respect to the ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acid amounts.

Keywords:Capoeta caelestis, ω3 fatty acid, Sex, Season.