Category: Research

SIRF Announces Ed Morey Memorial Fund

The Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF) Board of Directors has unanimously approved the formation of the Ed Morey, Founder, Morey’s Fish Company, Memorial Fund. The fund honors Mr. Morey’s leadership within the seafood industry as well as his support for seafood research.

SIRF September 2019 Meeting Recap

The SIRF Board met in September 2019 covering a full agenda for the seafood research organization. Items included planning for fundraising events, reporting on ongoing projects and discussion of project proposals. Watch the video for a recap of the meeting.

SIRF Director’s Testimonial

SIRF is guided by a board of industry leaders. This team guides SIRF’s mission forward by improving the seafood industry with innovative research. In this video, learn from SIRF directors what they value about the seafood research organization.

Dr. Aquiles Sanchez – FASTFISH-ID

Dr. Aquiles Sanchez (Thermagenix, Brandeis University) details his SIRF-sponsored research. FASTFISH-ID is a fast, cost-effective fish identification device that can be used as a more accessible alternative to traditional lab DNA testing.

Dr. Dan Distel – DNA Bank

Dr. Dan Distel (Northeastern University) details his SIRF-sponsored research — a public DNA bank to support technology development for seafood identification and authentication.

Crab Enhancement Research

Dr. Yoni Zohar with the University of Maryland Baltimore County and director of the Aquaculture Research Center at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology has co-authored a paper on Crab Enhancement. “Stock Enhancement: Strategic Approach for the Blue Swimmer Crab in SE Asia” profiles various approaches to bolstering crab populations through hatchery raised stocks and recommends best practices. Learn more about how this innovative practice can contribute to crab sustainability.

Improving Aquaculture at Virginia Tech

Dr. David Kuhn, a SIRF-sponsored researcher at Virginia Tech, provides a detailed look into his antibody fish farming research.  Outlining the methods of his study, Dr. Kuhn hopes the project will lead to developments preventing large-scale disease outbreaks and economic loss within the aquaculture industry.  As the first study of its kind performed on fish, the project’s success will be gaged by the antibody’s ability to protect fish from infection. Next research steps include determining dosage, economic feasibility of antibody treatment and a testing of other fish species.

Finding a Path to Safety in Food Allergy

Finding a Path to Safety in Food Allergy Video

In 2016, the National Academies of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine led an inquiry into food allergies. The study sought to determine the prevalence and severity of food allergies and its impact on affected individuals, families, and communities; and current understanding of food allergies as a disease, and in diagnostics, treatments, prevention, and public policy.

As seafood was a focus of the scientific investigation, SIRF was a sponsoring partner of the research. The resulting report, Food Allergies: Global Burden, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, and Public Policy, collects and evaluates the scientific evidence on the prevalence, origins, diagnosis, prevention, and management of food allergy and makes recommendations to policy makers, industry leaders, and others to bring about a safe environment for those with food allergy.

Interview with SIRF Researcher Dr David Kuhn

Virginia Tech Seafood Research Study

Virginia Tech researcher Dr. David Kuhn is conducting a study testing the effectiveness of antibodies in warding off aquaculture disease. In this interview, Dr. Kuhn describes SIRF’s support for the project as critical, allowing for the leveraging of university funding and resources in the execution of a complete analysis.

“I think funds like SIRF are really important because they are really geared towards the industry. Helping in the near term and sustaining as well,” said Dr. Kuhn. “Without SIRF funding this project would not be taking place.”