The Marine Fisheries Research Department's main objective is to maximize utilisation and reduce waste of fish resources in the Southeast Asian region through improved preservation and quality control offish and fish products. From studies on oceanography, fish resource surveying and utilization of low value fish, MFRD has progressed to research on the quality preservation of commercially important fish, development of value-added fish products and the packaging and shelf-life studies of fish products. The Department now serves as a regional training centre for ASEAN and SEAFDEC-member countries, and the regional information hub for fisheries post-harvest technology development.
MFRD has worked successfully with the seafood processing industry towards its upgrading. The industry now produces some 22,0000 tonnes of surimi (fish-jelly) based products valued at S$66 million annually. In 1988, MFRD played a key role in assisting the setting up of the Seafood Industries Association, Singapore (SIAS). The association currently has 100-odd members representing the seafood processing, manufacturing and trading companies in Singapore. The SIAS and MFRD work closely with other government agencies such as the Economic Development Board (EDB) to upgrade the industry.
Author
Ronnie Tan
References
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority. ( 2003). Agrotechnology - Marine Fisheries Research Department. Retrieved October 7, 2002, from
www.ava.gov.sg/JAVASCRIPT/module4/m4-option8-content.htm
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. (n.d.). MFRD. Retrieved October 7, 2002, from www.seafdec.org/mfrd/
Further Readings
Tan, S. B. R. (2000). Information resource management on fisheries: A case study of collection management in the Marine Fisheries Research Department Library. Singapore: Nanyang Technological University, School of Computer Engineering.
(Call no.: RSING 025.27 TAN)
Yeap S. E., et. al. (2001). Fish processing industry in Singapore. Singapore: Agrotechnology Division, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.
(Call no.: RSING 338.4766494 SIN)
The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
