Hull International Fisheries Institute (HIFI)

Hull International Fisheries Institute (HIFI) is a specialist unit at the University of Hull that undertakes a range of educational, training, consultancy and research work. Established in 1989, HIFI staff and associates have a wide experience in the fisheries, conservation and aquatic resource management fields. The recent integration of the Institute into the Department of Biological Sciences has allowed greater collaboration and diversification in the research, consultancy and teaching programmes HIFI is able to offer. In particular, HIFI has strong links with the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies and the Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, and is a key player in the Hull Environment Research Institute.

The Institute has long-standing relationships with key organisations that promote research and development, including the European Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, The World Bank, the British Government Department for International Development, NORAD, The Commonwealth Secretariat, Overseas Governments, The British Council, UK Country and City Councils, The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, DEFRA, CEFAS, English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales, British Waterways, the Environment Agency and private clients in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

The Institute is able to undertake projects that require a team of consultants covering issues concerning natural resource production. Since its inception, staff have undertaken work in Malaysia, Sarawak, Thailand, India, Laos, Cambodia, China, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kashmir, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, South Africa, Namibia, Eastern Caribbean States, Ecuador, Mexico, Egypt, Oman, Australia, Vanuatu, Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Russia and the United Kingdom. In addition, HIFI has co-operated on projects with organisations from Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, France, Austria, Eire, Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary, Germany and Norway.

HIFI’s research programme covers a wide range of disciplines in the field of natural resources, fisheries and the environment. The programme specialises in applied research, with emphasis on the scope for sustainable development, management and commercial developments. The Institute maintains worldwide links with many institutions and organisations and, consequently, masters and doctoral researchers are drawn from a number of countries. Along with consultancy, research constitutes an important source of materials that are fed back into the Institute’s programme of education and training.