Biochemical composition during the reproductive cycle of a novel gastropod resource from Atlantic Patagonia

Abstract

Marine gastropods are a popular seafood, abundant along coastal shores and healthy for human consumption. We studied variations in nutritional components during the gonadal cycle of Tegula patagonica, a novel gastropod resource protected by a recent artisanal fishery regulation. Similar to other marine gastropods consumed worldwide, T. patagonica was found to have a high protein content (mean ± s.d., 28.8 ± 15.4%) and a low lipid (1.36 ± 0.43%) and carbohydrate (1.7 ± 0.8%) content. The spawning peak was registered during spring and summer, concordant with increases in temperature and photoperiod, as observed for other gastropods from Atlantic Patagonia. According to our results, the optimal quality of T. patagonica for consumption is during the austral autumn, after the spawning season and when the gastropods have a high bodyweight and best nutritional contribution. Thus, this resource could be captured when its quality is optimal and its conservation promoted if established minimum catch sizes are respected.