Creation of Fisheries Research Institute (FRI)

The fish and fisheries are integral part of the culture and heritage of Bangladesh. The sector is quite significant in the country as it offers an important source of earning livelihood, foreign exchange and food supply. Keeping in view the immense potentials of fisheries sector in providing better nutrition and job opportunities, particularly to the poorest of the poor, and the urgency for optimum scientific utilization of the aquatic heritage, the President of the peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh was pleased to promulgate an Ordinance entitled “The Fisheries Research Institute Ordinance, 1984” on the 11 day of July 1984. In pursuance of this Ordinance the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) was established in  July  1984  with  the following  mandate :

 Mandate of the Institute

• To carry out basic and adaptive research for development and optimum utilization of all living aquatic resources and coordinate fisheries research activities in Bangladesh;

• To experiment and standardize techniques for maximizing productions and better management of living aquatic resources;

• To identify new production opportunities and develop them to usable levels;

• To develop skilled research manpower through training;

• To transfer the technologies to users through training of extension workers, planners, fish farmers and other relevant persons; and

• To advise the Government in all matters relating to research and management of living aquatic resources.

Though the Institute was established in 1984, the Institute actually started its functioning in 1986 with the recruitment of manpower and initial development of infrastructures and played key role in assisting the nation to achieve the goal of fisheries development as set out in successive plans. In 1997 the FRI has been renamed as Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI).