Fish and Aquatic Products: Processing, Preservation and Quality Analysis

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Foods of Marine Origin".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2100

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Regional Development, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima 734-0003, Japan
Interests: seafood; food protein; fermentation; odor; changes in food composition during storage
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Guest Editor
Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama 236-8648, Kanagawa, Japan
Interests: extractive components; amino acids; freshness; taste

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The edible parts of seafood are rich in nutritious high-quality protein and n-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which have health-promoting effects. Therefore, fish and shellfish are desirable foods as they enable humans to maintain good nutrition and health. As such, the worldwide production of fish and shellfish is increasing. However, after harvest, seafood is susceptible to alterations caused by endogenous enzymes and microorganisms. Therefore, appropriate storage and processing are necessary to maintain their quality. In addition, natural seafood is caught in large quantities during fishing season; therefore, adequate storage and processing are very important. However, even if heat treatment is performed for enzyme inactivation and sterilization , the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish can cause lipid oxidation, resulting in quality deterioration. Furthermore, it is necessary to properly analyze, monitor, and control the quality of fish and shellfish. Therefore, this Special Issue seeks a wide range of studies on the processing, preservation and quality analysis of fish and aquatic products.

Prof. Dr. Shota Tanimoto
Dr. Yuko Murata
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • enzyme
  • extractive components
  • flavor
  • lipid oxidation
  • microbe
  • quality control
  • quality deterioration
  • taste
  • texture
  • volatile organic compounds

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 326 KB  
Article
InsectFish—The Use of Insect Meal in the Fish Sector in Creating Farm-to-Fork Value: Chemical and Quality Characteristics of Sparus aurata Fillets Fed Hermetia illucens Larvae-Based Feed
by Emma Copelotti, Giovanni Sogari, Giulia Andreani, Baldassare Fronte, Roberta Moruzzo, Chiara Sangiacomo, Asia Zanzot, Andrea Serra, Giuliana Parisi, Isabella Tucciarone, Liudmyla Fihurska, Manus Carey, Katrina Campbell and Simone Mancini
Foods 2025, 14(17), 3107; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14173107 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 712
Abstract
The aquaculture sector has seen significant growth recently but also faces sustainability challenges due to the use of fish meal and fish oil. This project explored the potential of using partially defatted Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) larvae meal (BSFL meal) as a [...] Read more.
The aquaculture sector has seen significant growth recently but also faces sustainability challenges due to the use of fish meal and fish oil. This project explored the potential of using partially defatted Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) larvae meal (BSFL meal) as a sustainable alternative to fish meal in Sparus aurata diets. The trial was conducted with 132 fish reared in six tanks and fed two aquafeeds: a standard (CTRL) and an experimental (IF) in which fish meal was replaced (10%) with partially defatted BSFL meal. Fillets were analysed for chemical composition, elemental composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, primary and secondary oxidative products, cholesterol, pH and colour. Moreover, a panel of food experts (n = 26) was involved in a discrimination sensory test (duo–trio test) on raw and cooked fillets. The results showed no differences in chemical and physical analyses. The FA profile of IF was characterised by a significantly higher content of lauric acid (p-value 0.009) and myristic acid (p-value 0.049) than the CTRL ones. The panellists correctly identified the raw samples and found differences. On the other hand, only about 50% of the assessors correctly identified the cooked samples. The overall results suggest that partially defatted BSFL meal may represent a valid alternative for aquafeed production that could affect the sensory properties of raw fillets without altering their nutritional composition. Full article
16 pages, 808 KB  
Article
Biological Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) Reared in Two Different Culture Modes in Cold Regions of China
by Shihui Wang, Shuqi Zhang, Liang Luo, Rui Zhang, Kun Guo, Junjie Su and Zhigang Zhao
Foods 2025, 14(17), 2998; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14172998 - 27 Aug 2025
Viewed by 543
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to explore the biological characteristics and quality of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) reared in different modes and fill in the research gap regarding assessments of Procambarus clarkii quality in the cold regions of China. To achieve this, [...] Read more.
In this study, we aimed to explore the biological characteristics and quality of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) reared in different modes and fill in the research gap regarding assessments of Procambarus clarkii quality in the cold regions of China. To achieve this, typical rice–crayfish coculture (RCCC) and pond culture (PC) modes were established in Northeast China to evaluate the chelae proportion (CP), hepatosomatic index (HSI), abdominal meat yield (MY), proximate composition, fatty acids, free amino acids, and mineral elements of Procambarus clarkii. Extremely significantly higher CP (32.50%) but lower HSI (6.22%) and MY (9.54%) were observed in P. clarkii reared in the RCCC compared with those reared in the PC. The RCCC contained higher levels of total lipids, ∑MUFA, ∑EFA, h/H, ∑EFAA, ∑FAA, ∑TUV, ∑TBV, and ∑TME but lower levels of crude protein, ∑SFA, DHA + EPA, DHA/EPA, AI, and ∑TSV in the hepatopancreas. In addition, the RCCC had higher levels of ∑SFA, ∑EFA, AI, TI, ∑EFAA, ∑FAA, ∑TUV, and ∑TBV but lower levels of ∑HUFA, ∑n-6 PUFA, DHA/EPA, h/H, ∑TSV, and ∑TME in muscle. In summary, the culture modes of P. clarkii reared in the cold regions of China have an influence on the biological characteristics and quality of this species. Full article
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14 pages, 1415 KB  
Article
Effects of Different Packaging on the Purine Content and Key Enzymes of Refrigerated Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea)
by Tiansheng Xu, Wenxuan Lu, Bohan Chen, Dapeng Li and Jing Xie
Foods 2025, 14(15), 2732; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14152732 - 5 Aug 2025
Viewed by 562
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of air packaging, vacuum packaging and modified atmosphere packaging (CO2/N2: 80/20) on the purine metabolism and enzyme activities of refrigerated large yellow croakers. The results showed that modified atmosphere packaging significantly inhibited [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the effects of air packaging, vacuum packaging and modified atmosphere packaging (CO2/N2: 80/20) on the purine metabolism and enzyme activities of refrigerated large yellow croakers. The results showed that modified atmosphere packaging significantly inhibited microbial growth, delayed adenosine triphosphate degradation and maintained higher IMP content (1.93 μmol/g on day 21) compared to the air packaging group (2.82 μmol/g on day 12). The total purine content increased with storage time, with hypoxanthine content increasing significantly and occupying most of the total content, which was the key factor for the elevation of purine, followed by adenine content showing a significant decreasing trend. Hypoxanthine accumulation was significantly suppressed in the modified atmosphere packaging group (2.31 μmol/g on day 18), which was much lower than that in the air packaging group (5.64 μmol/g), whereas xanthine and guanine did not show significant differences among the groups. The key enzymes xanthine oxidase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase were much less active in modified atmosphere packaging, effectively delaying the cascade reaction of inosine monophosphate → hypoxanthine → xanthine. The study confirmed that modified atmosphere packaging intervenes in purine metabolism through enzyme activity regulation, providing a theoretical basis for the preservation of low purine aquatic products. Full article
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