Improvement of on-board handling of the silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea): a case study of Kiyindi Landing Site, Lake Victoria.
Abstract
Small pelagic fishes such as silver fish (Rastreneobola argentea) are susceptible to spoilage that
occur through chemical, enzymatic and microbial processes leading to deterioration in quality.
However, there is limited information on level of spoilage of small pelagic fishes and its
financial implication. The study assessed the level of on-board spoilage of R. argentea at Kiyindi
landing site, Lake Victoria and determined its financial implications. Sensory examination based
on a five-point hedonic scale to test for Consumer acceptability, texture, odour, flavour and
colour or appearance of the dried samples and microbial tests for total bacterial count and
isolated spoilage bacteria (Pseudomonas spp Aeromonas spp) were conducted 0n a total of 63
samples.
The results revealed that the present on-board handling practices of R. argentea pose a high
contamination risk due to high microbial loads coming from the cross contamination from the
fishers and poor quality of fishing containers used. The total plate count through all the treatment
samples ranged7-8 ± 0.01 cfu/ml. Pseudomonas spp was the most prevalent spoilage organism
with the highest levels found at bottom and middle (4.7 ± 0.11 log cfu/ml) of the ordinary
container/mukene at the floor. Aeromonas spp level was similarly highest at the bottom and
middle (4.6 ± 0.19 log cfu/ml) of the same mentioned sample container.
Similarly, bottom microbial loads at the bottom of the container correlated with the container
drain water samples where Pseudomonas spp level was highest in salted container drain water
(4.92 ± 0.05 log cfu/ml) and lowest in fishing ground water (3.46 ± 0.23 log cfu/ml). Aeromonas
spp level were highest in unsalted container drain water (4.54 ± 0.23 log cfu/ml) and lowest in
fishing ground water (3.35 ± 0.24 log cfu/ml).
R.argentea samples from the salted treatment had the highest financial value 24.19 % even after
the first cycle of the returns on investment computation.
Generally, the current on-board handling of R. is unhygienic and unsafe. There is need sensitize
the fishing communities on the health risks posed by poor on-board handling practices on
consumers and also to reduce the post-harvest losses associated with spoilage