declined pH,
suppressed increase of thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) as well as
growth of spoilage bacteria and pathogens. Besides, Suan yu had higher contents of non-protein nitrogen
(NPN) and total free amino acids (FAA) compared to the control (P < 0.05). The muscle proteins were
severely hydrolyzed during fermentation (SDS-PAGE). Moreover, the sensory evaluation indicates the
fermented fish was more widely accepted than the control. The results suggest that the inoculation with
S1, S2 and S3 reduced the lag time that fermentation began and improved the quality of Suan yu