p. 307 - 311 SEASONAL VARIABILITYOF THE LIPID CONTENT IN THE MEAT OF THE MAIN COMMERCIAL SMALL-SIZED MARINE FISH CAUGHT AT THE ROMANIAN BLACK SEA COAST IN 1992-1994 Angela Butu Romanian Marine Research Institute Constanta Abstract This paper presents the scientific results obtained in 1992-1994 related to the seasonal variability of the fat content in the meat of fish species Sprattus sprattus phalericus (sprat), Engraulis encrasicholus ponticus (anchovy) and Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus (horse mackerel), caught at the Romanian Black Sea coast, aiming at establishing the rational exploitation ways. All the recherches have been carried out yearly, between March and October, in the spring, summer and autumn seasons. The scientific results have proved that the sprat is suitable for industrial utilization when it is caught in the summer season, while the anchovy and horse mackerel in autumn, because they reach the maximum level of fat content in these periods. Key words: Black Sea, sprat, anchovy, horse mackerel, lipid content