Better or worse food: Nutrition value of the prey fishes and the potential health implications for Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins

Introduction Overfishing and climate change have combined to cause fishery stocks decline fish community composition change, further threatening the predation nutritional health of marine mammals. Methods In this study, we collected potential prey fishes catched by fishermen in six habitats Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins analyzed their proximate (moisture, water, fat protein), fatty acid amino evaluate possible effect on dolphins. Results The results showed that varied significantly with species locations. Fishes families Sciaenidae Engraulidae displayed richer composition, while those family Clupeidae had highest value quality index. Zhuhai, home largest dolphin population, pelagic/neritic possessed lower energy density, PUFA content, PUFA/SFA ratio, DHA EAA content compared demersal fish, suggesting stress when there is a dietary switch from Zhuhai population. Discussion Our study provided framework, density as its most important indicator, for assessment top predators based revealed threats. Data here expected facilitate development scientific programs successful conservation not only dolphins, but also other predators, possibly through reconstructing fish’s quantity quality.