A Comparative Evaluation of Carcass Quality, Nutritional Value, and Consumer Preference of Oreochromis niloticus from Two Impoundments with Different Pollution Levels in Zimbabwe

The objective of the study was to determine the quality and consumer preferences of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from two water bodies with diferent pollution levels and trophic states. Water quality assessment of the two impoundments was carried out. Fish were sampled from hypereutrophic Lake Chivero and oligomesotrophic Lake Kariba for proximate analysis, carcass quality, and sensory evaluation. Conductivity, dissolved oxygen, transparency, ammonia, total phosphates, reactive phosphates, and chlorophyll a were signifcantly diferent (P<0.05). Fish from Lake Kariba had signifcantly higher condition factors and lower fllet yields, while fsh of length 10-20 cm, from Lake Chivero had signifcantly more fat. Lake Chivero fsh were darker, greener, and less red while Lake Kariba fsh were lighter, less green, and less red. Raw fsh from Lake Kariba were signifcantly frmer, were less green and redder, had a stronger typical fsh odour, and were more acceptable than Lake Chivero fsh. Lake Chivero fsh had a stronger foreign fsh odour than their counterparts. No statistical diferences were observed on fllet cooking losses, cooked fsh sensory parameters, and acceptability. Te fsh could, however, not be safe due to possibility of toxins in water and feed (algae) which may bioaccumulate and ultimately afect other attributes of fsh quality.