Bangladesh Fisheries Reserach Institute

What Bangladesh Fisheries Reserach Institute does

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) is a government autonomous research institute established in 1984 under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh, headquartered in Mymensingh. Its mandate is fisheries research and development across freshwater, marine, riverine, brackish water, and shrimp aquaculture domains, serving Bangladeshi fish farmers, fishermen communities, and coastal aquaculture practitioners as its primary constituents. BFRI operates four specialized research centers (Freshwater Center, Marine Fisheries and Technology Center, Shrimp Research Center, River Station) and multiple sub-stations spanning Cox's Bazar, Chandpur, Bagerhat, Khulna, Jessore, Saidpur, Santahar, Rangamati, and Khepupara, collectively forming a national R&D footprint that no private actor replicates.

BFRI's core offerings include the development and distribution of improved fish seed varieties (notably BFRI Sonbir RaUi/Golden Rui, along with Catla, Mrigal, Kalibaus, Silver Carp, Bighead Carp, Rajpunti, White Pangash, Giant Freshwater Prawn PL, Tilapia fry, and crab cablet), proprietary aquaculture technology packages (rice-fish farming, pond pangash culture, monosex tilapia cage culture, Hilsa conservation, pearl culture, seaweed cultivation, crab fattening, and shrimp brood production), and a newly launched five-year freshwater fish disease prevention vaccine development project (July 2025–June 2030). The institute also publishes research journals and conducts extension training programs, supported by mobile applications (E-Carp Breeding, BFRI in Kaptai Lake Info) and integration with the Ministry's eservices.mofl.gov.bd e-services platform.

Commercially, BFRI is structured as a public-mandate institution rather than a revenue-driven enterprise. Fish seeds are sold at government-determined subsidized rates through its centers and sub-stations, with payments processed via Sonali Bank accounts and bKash mobile banking. The institute's revenue model is grant-funded through its parent Ministry, with commercial seed sales serving as a technology transfer mechanism rather than a profit center. The current Director General is Dr. Muhammad Latif Islam, appointed 13 July 2026, reporting under the Ministry's annual performance agreement framework.

Name

Bangladesh Fisheries Reserach Institute

Legal name

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute

Website

https://fri.gov.bd

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) is a government autonomous institute under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, conducting aquaculture R&D and distributing improved fish seed varieties to Bangladeshi fish farmers, fishermen, and coastal aquaculture communities via a national network of four specialized centers and multiple sub-stations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries Research and Aquaculture Technology Services

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Aquaculture (1125), Other Aquaculture (112519), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Tilapia & Warmwater Fish Hatcheries (e.g., Catfish, Carp) (AFAEAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture Breeding & Genetics Services (e.g., broodstock improvement) (AFAEAJAN), Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE), Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO)

Keywords

• Aquaculture research
• Fish seed production
• Marine fisheries
• Fish disease prevention
• Shrimp farming technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Mymensingh

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) is a government autonomous research institute under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock that develops improved fish varieties and aquaculture technologies. The institute produces and distributes quality fish seeds (including BFRI Sonbir RaUi/Golden Rui, Rui, Catla, Mrigal, Kalibaus, carp species, tilapia, and shrimp/prawn post-larvae) at subsidized rates to fish farmers across Bangladesh. It also conducts research on fish disease prevention (including a vaccine innovation project running 2025-2030), provides extension and training services, and operates through four specialized research centers and multiple sub-stations.

Product overview

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) is a government research institute under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. It does not operate as a commercial product company but rather as a research and development organization. The institute develops and disseminates fisheries technologies, improved fish seed varieties, and provides training and extension services. The main offerings include: BFRI-developed improved fish fry distributed at affordable prices (covering species such as Rui, Catla, Magur, and exotic carp varieties), fish farming technologies (including rice-fish farming, pond fish culture, shrimp/prawn cultivation, pearl culture, cage culture), and research publications (research journals, annual reports, newsletters). The institute operates through multiple centers (Freshwater Center, Marine Fisheries and Technology Center, Shrimp Research Center, Riverine Station) that each focus on specialized research areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BFRI Developed Advanced Fry Distribution Service (বিএফআরআই উদ্ভাবিত উন্নত জাতের পোনা সুলভ মূল্যে বিতরণ) Distribution service that supplies BFRI-developed improved fish fry varieties (including BFRI Sonbir RaUi/Golden Rui, Rui, Catla, Mrigal, Kalibaus, Silver Carp, Bighead Carp, Rajpunti, White Pangash, Giant Freshwater Prawn PL, crab cablet, Tilapia fry) at subsidized rates to fish farmers and aquaculture practitioners. Pricing is set per unit (e.g., BFRI Sonbir RaUi at 6000 Taka/kg, BFRI Rui at 5000 Taka/kg, Giant freshwater prawn PL at 1 Taka/PL, Tilapia fry at 0.5 Taka/fry). Sales are conducted through Sonali Bank accounts at center branches and bKash mobile banking at some centers.
• BFRI Developed Aquaculture Technologies (বিএফআরআই উদ্ভাবিত প্রযুক্তি) A portfolio of aquaculture farming technologies disseminated by BFRI, covering rice-fish culture, pond fish culture for Pangash and Rajpunti, pesticide-free quality shutki (dried fish) production, induced breeding and culture management of indigenous fish species (Pabda, Gulsha, Shing, Magur, Koi), closed-system semi-intensive Bagda shrimp culture, Golda shrimp improved nursery management, Gher-based improved Bagda shrimp culture, early Golda shrimp brood production, Nona Tengra breeding and fry production, coastal mixed culture of Golda shrimp and monosex tilapia, Balachata artificial breeding and fry production, advanced feed management in fish culture, pen culture, cage culture in Kaptai Lake (pen and floating cage for monosex tilapia), detection of formalin and its harmful effects, crab fattening in cages, Hilsa management, floating cage monosex tilapia culture, monosex fry production of GIFT tilapia, Hilsa sanctuary establishment, brood stock and jatka conservation, indigenous Sarputi artificial breeding and fry production, fry production and culture of endangered Mahasol, freshwater pearl culture, Shila crab breeding and fry production, aquaponic gardening and floating cage Gulsha culture, seaweed cultivation in coastal areas, Koi fish disease prevention vaccine innovation, controlled breeding and culture of Kuchia, mixed culture of GIFT tilapia with Magur and Gulsha, and Gher-based Bagda shrimp and GIFT fish culture. Provided for adoption by fish farmers and aquaculture practitioners.
• Freshwater Fish Disease Prevention Vaccine Development Project Ongoing BFRI research project focused on developing vaccines for freshwater fish disease prevention, targeting the aquaculture industry's challenge of disease outbreaks causing mass mortality in farmed fish populations. Project duration: July 2025 to June 2030. Project Director: Dr. Sirajum Monir.
• BFRI E-Services Platform Online government e-services platform (eservices.mofl.gov.bd) that enables farmers and stakeholders to submit applications for BFRI services, including fish seed procurement, training applications, and service requests, under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
• BFRI Mobile Applications (E-Carp Breeding, BFRI in Kaptai Lake Info) Mobile applications including E-Carp Breeding and BFRI in Kaptai Lake Info, available on Google Play Store for fish farmers and researchers to access BFRI's fisheries information and tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of BFRI Sonbir RaUi (Golden Rui) - an improved carp variety
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2024

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Fisheries Department, Bangladesh (DoF): Bangladesh's Department of Fisheries under the same parent Ministry as BFRI; performs regulatory and extension work that complements BFRI's research mandate, with overlapping farmer-facing services in aquaculture technology transfer.

Direct peers

• WorldFish: International non-profit aquaculture research organization headquartered in Malaysia with CGIAR mandate; directly comparable to BFRI in its mission of developing improved fish genetics, breeding technologies, and aquaculture practices for developing-country fisheries.
• ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA): Indian Council of Agricultural Research institute focused on freshwater aquaculture research including carp breeding, catfish culture, and fish health — a sister government research institute with a nearly identical mandate to BFRI's Freshwater Center, producing improved fish seed varieties.
• SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department: Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center's aquaculture arm based in the Philippines; comparable as a multi-country government-backed fisheries R&D body focused on seed production, shrimp and finfish culture technologies across tropical Asia.
• ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA): Indian government research institute dedicated to brackishwater aquaculture — shrimp, finfish, and crab species — directly comparable to BFRI's Shrimp Research Center (Bagerhat) and Loanaponi Center (Khulna) operations in coastal Bangladesh.
• Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS): China's national fisheries research institution operating multiple specialized labs and stations covering freshwater, marine, and shrimp aquaculture; a direct functional counterpart to BFRI at a larger scale within a comparable tropical/subtropical fisheries context.

Broad incumbents

• FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division: UN body providing global fisheries and aquaculture policy, technical guidance, and research coordination; comparable as an upstream convener and standard-setter that interacts with BFRI on technology dissemination and capacity building.

Regional players

• Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (NOFIMA): Norway's national applied research institute for fisheries and aquaculture; comparable as a government-backed fisheries R&D organization with vaccine development programs and improved breeding lines, though focused on cold-water species.
• Fisheries Research Institute Malaysia (DOF): Malaysian Department of Fisheries research arm; operates national-level aquaculture R&D and seed production centers comparable to BFRI's specialized centers, but serving Malaysia rather than Bangladesh.

Emerging players

• NACA (Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific): Inter-governmental organization coordinating aquaculture research and policy across Asia-Pacific governments; comparable as a network of national fisheries research bodies including Bangladesh, with overlapping fish breeding, health, and seed dissemination mandates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bangladesh-fisheries-reserach-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh Fisheries Reserach Institute