First mooted by the Director of Fisheries in 1950, the Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD) was established in 1969.1 It was located at Changi Fisheries Complex at Changi Point before moving to Lim Chu Kang Agri-Bio Park in 1999.2 It is currently situated in the Marine Aquaculture Centre on St John’s Island.3
The MFRD is one of the five departments in the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.4 The MFRD’s main objective is to maximise the utilisation of fish for consumption and to reduce wastage of fish resources in Southeast Asia, through the improvement of fisheries post-harvest and processing technologies.5 From studies of fish resource surveying, pelagic fishing resources and coastal fishery management, MFRD has progressed to the research of the processing, handling, preservation and quality assessment of fish and fish products. The centre also disseminates these technologies to the region through training courses, seminars and workshops.6 In addition, MFRD conducts programmes relating to biotoxins monitoring, utilisation of freshwater fish for value-added products, and traceability systems for aquaculture products, among others.7
The MFRD has worked successfully with the seafood processing industry for the latter’s upgrading. In 1988, it played a key role in assisting the establishment of the Seafood Industries Association, Singapore (SIAS), which represents seafood processing, manufacturing and trading companies in Singapore.8 SIAS and MFRD work closely with other government agencies, such as Enterprise Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to advance the industry’s interests.9 Some of the past programmes implemented by MFRD are Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region (2010–15),10 Cold Chain Management for Seafood (2015–18)11 and Biotoxins Monitoring in the ASEAN Region (2009–17).12
Selected publications
2002: Southeast Asian Fish Products.13
2003: Fermented Fish Sauce in Southeast Asia.14
2005: Maximising Utilisation of Fish Catch – Freshwater Species.15
2008: Compilation of Key Regional Laboratories Validated Methods in Southeast Asia.16
2010: Good Manufacturing Practice for Small and Medium-sized Traditional Fish and Fish Products Processing Establishment in ASEAN.17
2013: Utilisation of Freshwater Fish for Value-added Products.18
2016: Technical Compilation of Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region.19
Authors
Ronnie Tan & Kevin Seet
References
1. “Fish Lab for Singapore,” Straits Times, 21 July 1950, 8; “Singapore Takes Steps to Boost Production of Fish,” Singapore Herald, 8 October 1970, 3 (From NewspaperSG); “About MFRD,” Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), 2020.
2. K. M. Chan, “40 Years and Going Strong,” Straits Times, 8 March 2000, 14. (From NewspaperSG)
3. “Marine Fisheries Research Department/Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre,” Singapore Food Agency, updated 20 February 2020.
4. “SEAFDEC Structure,” Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), 2020.
5. “Functions & Activities,” Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), 2017.
6. “Research Centre Focus on Fishery Control, Resources,” Straits Times, 30 March 1977, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
7. “Raising Food Traceability Capabilities for ASEAN Aquaculture Industries,” AVA Vision no. 1 (2014), 9.
8. Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), “AVA’s Centres,” 2017 (From NLB’s Web Archive Singapore); “SIAS Objectives,” Seafood Industries Association Singapore (SIAS), 2020.
9. Seafood Industries Association Singapore (SIAS), “SIAS Objectives.”
10. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Technical Compilation of Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Department, 2016). (From PublicationSG)
11. “Regional Guidelines on Cold Chain Management of Fish and Fishery Products in ASEAN Region,” Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), 2019.
12. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Technical Compilation of Biotoxins Monitoring in ASEAN Region 2009–2012 (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Department, 2012) (Call no. RSING 597.0959 TEC); Ong Yihan and Chai Hui Wen, Technical Compilation of Biotoxins Monitoring in ASEAN Region 2015–2017 (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Department, 2019).
13. Kok Tiong Ngei, et al., Southeast Asian Fish Products (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Dept., 2002) (Call no. RSING q664.940959 SOU)
14. Kok Tiong Ngei, et al., Fermented Fish Sauce in Southeast Asia (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Dept., 2003). (Call no. RSING q664.940959 KOK)
15. Goh Kian Heng and Yeap Soon Eong, Maximizing Utilization of Fish Catch – Freshwater Species (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Department, 2005) (Call no. RSEA 338.3727095957 GOH)
16. Tan Lu Hsia, et al., eds., Compilation of Key Regional Laboratories Validated Methods in Southeast Asia (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Dept, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 2008). (Call no. RSING 639.2072059 COM)
17. Yeap, S. E., & Thong, D.B.H. (2013). Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for Small and Medium-Sized Traditional Fish and Fish Products Processing Establishment in ASEAN. Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Dept, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. (Call no.: RSING 664.9497 GOO)
18. Yeap Soon Eong, et al., Utilisation of Freshwater Fish for Value-Added Products (Singapore: Marine Fisheries Research Dept, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 2013). (Call no. RSING 338.37270959 YEA)
19. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Technical Compilation of Traceability Systems.
Further resources
“Major Breakthrough in Breeding Favourite Seafood,” Straits Times, 25 June 1978, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
“Retaining the Freshness of Frozen Fish,” Straits Times, 5 February 1982, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
Ronnie Tan Soo Bin, 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 q025.27 TAN-[LIB])
Yeap Soon Eong, et al., eds., Fish Processing Industry in Singapore (Singapore: Agrotechnology Division, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, 2001). (Call no. RSING q338.4766494 SIN)
The information in this article is valid as at 31 March 2021 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.
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