The total lipid content and fatty acid composition in the hepatopancreas, muscle and gonad of ablated Penaeus monodon females at ovarian maturation Stages I to V were examined. The lipid content was highest in the hepatopancreas, 22.5% to 34.9% dry wt. There was no marked variation with maturation stage in muscle lipid levels. Ovarian lipid content more than doubled the initial value of 7.5% at commencement of maturation Stage II, and progressively increased to a maximum of 21.9% at full maturity (Stage IV), corollary to a rise in hepatopancreas lipid. The findings suggest lipids are stored and utilized for gonadal development and spawning. Fatty acid profiles in the tissues showed a predominance of 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The characteristically high levels of PUFA in mature shrimp ovaries and presence in spawned eggs are indicative of their metabolic and physiological importance in penaeid shrimp reproduction.