Abstract: The nutritional contents in the muscle of Epinephlus akaara,E.awoara and E.coioides were analyzed and evaluated.Protein content of the fresh muscle of E.awoara(21.76%) was higher than that of E.akaara(19.15%) or E.coioides(20.21%).The contents of total amino acids(TAA),essential amino acids(EAA) and flavoring amino acids(FAA) in dry weight fish flesh were 67.94%,27.35% and 26.30%,respectively,in E.akaara,72.25%,30.58% and 26.90%,respectively,in E.awoara,and 73.38%,30.77% and 27.53%,respectively,in E.coioides.The FAA to TAA ratio in E.akaara was the highest among the three groupers(38.71%).The amino acids score(AAS) and chemical score(CS) showed no significant difference among the three species.The EAA index of E.akaara was the highest(85.71) among the three groupers.The EPA+DHA contents in E.akaara and E.awoara were 20.4% and 20.5%,respectively,and they were higher than that in E.coioides.The results indicated that the three different species of groupers were nutritive and delicious seafood.Their nutritional values were similar,but the flavor of E.akaara and E.awoara appeared to be more desirable than that of E.coioides,based on their FAA contents.

Key words: grouper, muscle, nutrient component