Chemical characteristics of red swimming crab (Thalamita spinimana) in Dompak Waters, Tanjungpinang City

Abstract

Red swimming crab (Thalamita spinimana) is one of the fishery commodities caught by fishermen in Senggarang Village, Tanjungpinang City. Dompak Waters is one of the red swimming crab fishing ground for Senggarang fishermen. Utilization of red swimming crab have not used optimally as raw material for food and industry. This study aimed to determine the nutritional composition, fatty acids, amino acids, and heavy metals in red swimming crab. The sample used is fresh red swimming crab meat contained in the carapace and claws. The results showed that the nutritional composition of fresh red swimming crab meat contained 81.13% moister, 15.48% protein, 0.59% fat, 2.14% ash, 0.67% carbohydrate, and 0.53% crude fiber content. The highest amino acid content in red swimming crab is glutamic acid at 16,043.78 mg/kg. Red swimming crab has 0.38% unsaturated fatty acids and 0.20% saturated fatty acids. Heavy metals Hg, Pb, and Sn contained in red swimming crab are still below the based on Indonesian National Standard for heavy metal maximum threshold contained in food. Red swimming crab caught by fishermen in Senggarang Village from Dompak Waters fishing ground area are safe to use as food and nutritious raw materials.