Proximate and fatty acid compositions in muscle tissue were studied in 14 species of coastal and offshore fishes in Korea. Lipid content ranged from 0.57 to 10.5% and was higher in migratory and reef dwelling fishes than in demersal fishes. Protein content ranged from 14.4 to 20.3% and moisture content ranged from 72.4 to 81.8% in all fish samples. There was a negative correlation between lipid and moisture content in all fish samples (r= -0.90, P<0.001). The prominent fatty acids were 16:0, 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), 18:1n-9, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), 16:1n-7, 18:0 and 18:1n-7. Most demersal fishes contained considerably higher amounts of 20:4n-6 and/or 22:5n-3 compared with migratory and reef dwelling fishes. The proportion of total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), including DHA and EPA, was higher in demersal fishes (38.6-54.0%) than in migratory and reef dwelling fishes (23.5-35.2%).