RT journal article
T1 Air Exposure in Catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) Modify Muscle Texture Properties: A Pilot Study
A1 Barragan-Mendez, Cristina
A1 Sánchez García, Josefa
A1 Sobrino, Ignacio
A1 Mancera Romero, Juan Miguel
A1 Ruiz Jarabo de la Rocha, Ignacio
A2 Biología
A2 Ingeniería Química y Tecnología de Alimentos
AB Sharks are captured by tons for human consumption. Improving the quality of their meatwill produce fillets that may have a higher economic value in the market, and thus be beneficial forthe management of this fishery. In other animal species destined for human consumption, a negativerelationship between pre-slaughtering stress and meat quality has been demonstrated. By studyingthe commercial small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula), this work aimed at linking pre-slaughterhandling of captured sharks and muscle fillets quality. An experimental group of adult and subadultliving catsharks captured by hand and exposed to air (for 18 min, which is the minimum time thisspecies is exposed to air in the fishing deck during fisheries procedures), and an undisturbed group,were evaluated. After air exposure, catsharks returned to water for recovery. Muscle lactate and watercontent were quantified after acute exposure (for 18 min), 5 h and 24 h. This challenge elicited stressresponses in the muscle such as increased lactate levels and immediate dehydration, followed byrecovery of lactate levels and overhydration. Muscle consistency, a relevant variable describingquality of seafood according to its ability to be swallowed by the consumer, paralleled muscle watercontent changes. The results indicated for the first time that handling alive sharks exposed to airresults in muscle fillets with different texture properties. Whether these changes in muscle textureinduce higher quality fillets has yet to be proven. Our recommendation is to minimize time of airexposure experienced by sharks when captured, including fast slaughtering instead of leaving themto die by asphyxia, as current on-board procedures.
PB MDPI
SN 2410-3888
YR 2018
FD 2018
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34540
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34540
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 21-sep-2026