Comparison of the External Appearance and Chemical Composition of Gourami in Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Songkhram Provinces

Abstract

Samut Prakan Province is well-known for its local agricultural product, the gourami, specifically the Bang Bo gourami, which has gained popularity throughout the country. However, the production of gourami has significantly decreased due to a reduction in the farming area. As a result, gourami from nearby provinces are now being brought in for processing and sale. This has led to uncertainty among consumers about whether the gourami they purchase is genuine Bang Bo gourami or not. To address this issue, this study examined the external appearance, including the amount of protein and fat, of gourami from four districts in Samut Prakan Province (Bang Bo District, Bang Phli District, Mueang District, and Bang Sao Thong District) compared to gourami from Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram provinces in connection with farming methods and geographical characteristics. The results indicated that the external appearance of gourami in each district was similar, with a small and elongated body. They were mainly fed with natural food, which required them to swim to find their food resulting in muscle accumulation. Additionally, the body color of gourami from Samut Prakan Province was darker compared to gourami from Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon Province, which had a less dark yellowish-black body color and were larger and plumper compared to fish of a similar farming age. This was due to commercially raised fish primarily being fed with ready-made feed pellets, causing fat accumulation. In terms of chemical composition, it was found that the fat content of gourami in Bang Sao Thong District was significantly lower than that of Bang Phli District at P<0.05, but there was no difference when compared to the rest of Samut Prakan Province. Although there was no difference in the amount of protein, it was discovered that the fat content of gourami in Samut Prakan Province was significantly lower than that of Samut Songkhram Province and Samut Sakhon Province at P<0.05. This research data can be used as information to create accurate awareness for consumers who want to buy genuine Bang Bo gourami and used as information for registering a geographical indication in the name of Bang Bo gourami.