INSTM Bulletin : Marine and Freshwater Sciences

Effects of chitosan-microparticles-coating on the quality of vacuum-packed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets during refrigerated storage

2023-01-02T16:36:22+00:00

In this work, a combination of vaccum pachaging and bio-coating by chitosan were used to coat sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets in order to delay growth of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, psychrophilic bacteria during refrigerated storage (22 days).

The preservative effect of refrigerated and vacuum-packed seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets treated at two different percentage doses (0.2% and 0.5% w/w) of co-products of shellfish was evaluated on the basis of microbiological, proximate composition, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine (TMA), thiobarbyturic acid (TBArs), and fatty acids (FA). Two ways ANOVA and multiple comparisons were applied, factors being storage time and treatment. During refrigerated storage, the treatment with chitosan from separate co-products exhibited more antimicrobial activity and the lowest value of the TVB-N, TMA and TBArs compared to control lots. The bio-coating by 0.5% dose of chitosan preserved quality and the prolonged shelf-life for 10 days longer.

Overall, this treatment may open new promising opportunities for the biopreservation of fish products by enhancing the period of storage of refrigerated and vacuum-packed seabass fillets.

Comparative study on the composition and functional properties of chitin/chitosan extracted by new combined bioprocess

2022-12-20T15:17:41+00:00

Bio-extraction of chitin is a greener and eco-friendly process than the conventional chemical method. Taking shrimp waste of Pandalus borealis recovered from plant as a model, two methods were applied for chitin extraction; a chemical and a yeast-based processes (Ch-C and Ch-B respectively). The recovered chitins and chitosan were tested for their biochemical and functional properties. Compared to commercial chitin, both lots, have similar chitin recovery (~26%) and physiochemical properties with ash<1%, protein <10%, with degrees of acetylation (DA) varying 70-80%. However, chitosan obtained from Ch-B lot showed significantly lower molecular weight (MW) and DA (MW: 6.34 KDa, DA: 23.4%) than that found in Ch-C chitosan (MW: 11.36 KDa, DA: 33.4%). The new method proved to be efficient for the production of chitosan of good quality which allowed the elaboration of the membrane.

Overview of Bottlenose dolphin depredation in Teboulba region (East of Tunisia)

2023-01-19T16:14:17+00:00

This work was carried out in response to the numerous fishermen claims following to the interaction between dolphins and fishing gears along the coast of Teboulba. The aims of this work were: to establish an inventory of dolphins present in the study area and interacting with fisheries, to define the most affected fisheries by the depredation and to attempt to assess it economic consequences.

For this purpose, field surveys as well as weekly monitoring of a sample of the fleet and sea trips were carried out in order to respond to the previously mentioned objectives.

The findings of this study led to the conclusion that there are two dolphin’s species: the Bottlenose dolphin and the Striped dolphin. These two species have a different demographic and ecological distribution. They also interact in two different ways with the fishing boats and their nets. According to the surveys, the most depredated fisheries is the small scall fisheries. Set gillnet and trammel nets were the types of the fishing gear most vulnerable to dolphin depredation. The depredation rate and economical loss due to depredation vary slightly between gillnets and trammel nets. The depredation induces many holes with different size requiring mending operations that can be onerous. Likewise for landing, the resulting bites on the catch leave it unsaleable. It is necessary to continue this study in order to identify the factors that can cause the depredation and propose mitigation measures to avoid any ecological and economic blunder.

Eroding coastal sandy barriers under changing aeolian flux in the Gulf of Tunis

2023-02-18T09:53:30+00:00

Sandy barriers are coastal features formed and reworked by terrestrial and marine-induced processes along decadal to millenary scale periods. In the semi-arid areas along the extended North African coast, these coastal landscapes are undergoing accelerated morphodynamical changes induced by intensifying anthropogenic and climate drivers in the last century. To quantify the latter, we assess the changes in sediment dynamics of the Ghar El Melh sandy barrier extended over the northern part of the Gulf of Tunis in Tunisia using sedimentological analysis and quantification of the aeolian flux. A total of 37 subsurface samples and 30 surface aeolian trapped ones were collected at the coastal dunes of Ghar El Melh. Our sedimentological analysis reveals a distribution of 97% of sandy sediments and 3% of silty facies. The modal statistical analysis suggests that there are three distinguishable sediment types with 87% of samples formed by fine sands with modal value of 0.16 mm. The mixture of these indicates mixed terrigenous and marine sources redistributed by the hydrodynamic processes. The measurement of the aeolian flow suggests a maximum value of 0.0022 kg.m.-1min-1 which occurs in dust storms. This study reveals the low detrital sand supplies to the lagoon-sea barrier of Ghar El Melh, results in its gradual submersion, further exposing the coastal lagoon and engendering severe ecological degradations.