SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO, L. 1758) FROM AQUACULTURE AND OPEN WATERS IN MACEDONIA

Seasonal variations (spring and autumn) of the fatty acid composition of common carp from aquaculture (cyprinid - warm water fish farm) and open waters (Prespa Lake) from Macedonia were examined. Aquaculture carp contain almost similar saturated fatty acid (SFA) content (25.95% - spring and 30.77% - autumn) compared to open water carp (25.84% - spring and 31.91% - autumn). Palmitic acid was the major SFA in both aquaculture and open water carp. Regarding monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content, it is significantly higher in both seasons in aquaculture (63.27% - spring; 59.85% - autumn) compared to open water carp (48.11% - spring; 54.12% - autumn). Oleic acid was identified as the major MUFA. In both seasons, the value of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) is significantly higher in open water (26.17% - spring; 13.97% - autumn) compared to aquaculture carp (10.90% - spring; 9.39% autumn). The most optimal results in terms of nutritional value of fish meat were found in open water carp, in the spring, due to high PUFA content, especially linoleic (n-6), as well as EPA and DHA (n-3) fatty acids. This is the result of diet, because carp consumes phyto and zooplankton from the lake's benthos, which are especially rich in essential fatty acids.