Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2 6 2014 06 15 Seasonal Variation of the Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profiles and Mineral Elements of Diplodus Annularis (Linnaeus, 1758) Caught in the Tunisian Coastal Water 306 311 EN Ilhem Ketata Khitouni Nourhène Boudhrioua Mihoubi Abderrahmen Bouain Faouzi Ben Rebah Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, ENIS, Sfax-Tunisia JFNR2014267 10.12691/jfnr-2-6-7 2014 05 03 2014 05 24 2014 06 15 The present study investigated the seasonal variation of the chemical composition and fatty acid profiles of Annular sea bream Diplodus annularis from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia). Moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of the fish muscle were examined as a function of season and sex. Protein, fat and ash average contents were 18.65, 6.47 and 2.20 g/100 g, respectively. The major fatty acids in D. annularis lipids were palmitic acid, oleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and myristic acid. Palmitic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid ranging from 26.38 to 32.79 % of the total fatty acids. Oleic acid was the main monounsaturated fatty acid ranging from 26.28 to 35.76 %. The high amounts of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the investigated species are almost in agreement with other studies. Interestingly, omega-3 fatty acids were present at high level in spring (18.04 %). Moreover, the fish muscle contained appreciable concentrations of essential elements (Ca, K, Na and Mg). The present work suggests that this fish could be used as a source of healthy diet for humans.