History of Establishment

The existence of the Fisheries Research Institute commenced in 1949 with the establishment of the Freshwater Fish Research Branch in Gelugor, Penang under the Department of Fisheries of the Malayan Union and Singapore. This branch was upgraded to the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) in 1957 and is one of the ten divisions under the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Malaysia. The main objective of the establishment is to conduct research in the aspects of fisheries resources, aquaculture and ecology to support the DOF in the management and development of the fisheries sector in Malaysia. Mr. D. Pathansali was the first Chief Research Officer appointed to lead FRI.

FRI has gone through several internal structural changes in the following years with the establishment of centres throughout the country to carry out research in the main areas of fisheries, such as the following:

1957

Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) in Batu Berendam, Melaka, which later moved to Glami Lemi, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan in 2006 and is now known as FRI Glami Lemi.

1977

Bintawa Fisheries Research Centre, Sarawak, now known as FRI Bintawa.

1978

Brackish water Fisheries Research Centre (BARC), Gelang Patah, Johor, and now known as FRI Gelang Patah

1981

-National Prawn Fry Research Centre (NAPFRE) in Pulau Sayak, Kedah and now known as Pulau Sayak;
-Fisheries Research Institute (East Coast Branch),Pulau Kambing, Kuala Terengganu; then upgraded to Fish Resource Research Centre (PPSIM) in 1989 and named of Marine Fisheries Resource Research and Management (DPPSPM) in 1992 and separated from FRI administration. In 2017, it was branded as the Asia Marine Resources Institute (ISMAT).

1983

Marine FinFish Production and Research Centre (MAFPREC) in Tanjung Demong, Terengganu and now known as FRI Tanjung Demong.

1996

National Fish Health Research Centre (NaFisH) in Batu Maung Penang.

2001

b>Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (TUMEC) in Rantau Abang, Terengganu and now known as FRI Rantau Abang.

2004

Marine Research Station Layang-Layang (MaRSAL).

2007

Aquatic Ecosystem Research Centre (AEReC), in Kg Acheh, Sitiawan, Perak and now known as FRI Kg Acheh.

2015

FRI Langkawi, Bukit Malut, Langkawi and now known as Langkawi Research Centre.