Composition and properties of shark liver oil and liver residue

Summary The livers of Carcharias taurus and Sphyrna diplana were studied in detail, particular attention being paid to the potential uses of the lipid. The food value of shark, technological characteristics and the uses to which shark resources could be put are presented. Seasonal variation in the composition of the shark liver oil was also observed. The detailed chemical composition of the extracted shark liver oil was compared with that of the commercial cod liver oil. The currently discarded liver residue left after oil extraction was found to be rich in protein and ash.