In 1931 a construction bureau was created in St. Petersburg for the design of domestic fishing and fish-processing boats and machines in order to solve the country's problem of food shortage. After a number of structural reforms, the small bureau has been transformed into the State Engineering Institute of the Fisheries (Giprorybflot), having seven branches, a research department and an experimental plant. The entire fishing fleet of the former U.S.S.R. and modern Russia, including ships with displacement of 150 to 45,000 tons, was engineered and built with the direct participation of the Institute's experts. For high quality showings and a significant contribution to the development of Russia's fisheries, the Institute was awarded the "Sign of Honour" order in 1982.
   Today, Giprorybflot is the only organization on the territories of Russia and the C.I.S. that deals with the entire complex of problems related to the construction and operation of the fishery fleet. The Institute has a government Certificate of Accreditation for research organizations in accordance to the federal law "On Research and the State Policy on Science and Technology" and also a Certificate of Compliance with the requirements of the State Standard concerning research organizations in the areas of fish-processing ships' construction and operation, the construction and operation of land-based fish-processing plants, the technologies of processing sea foods; the certification of fishing and fish-processing companies and ships; the certification of small ships on compliance to the "Rules of classification, design, construction and equipment of small fishery ships"; the systems of internal control in fish-producing companies; the evaluation of fishing projects' credit abilities, including leasing and processing ships; the testing of fish products.
   As a result of the breakdown of the U.S.S.R., Russia's fisheries, including the fishing fleet, suffered great losses in production. During the late 1980's and early 1990's the state financing of ship building, fundamental research and promising design projects has virtually ceased. In these extremely difficult conditions the Institute's administration has managed to preserve its leading role in the industry. With resort to the Institute's internal resources, several work initiatives were carried out, which allowed it to sign agreements with various companies in the fishing industry and to keep its status and the majority of its staff. The research undertaken by the Institute's scientists and engineers made it possible to stabilize the work of the active fleet and to plan the conceptual methods of its restoration, which allowed the Institute not only to stop the industry's recession, but also to increase the volumes of fish production. THe results of the research have been used in the federal program of the development of fisheries ("Ryba"), approved by government decree on September 18, 1995.
   Giprorybflot possesses a variety of research and engineering sections and labs, equipped with modern technology needed for its projects.
   It conducts a broad spectrum of works for the improvement of fish produce quality.
   The Institute is an official agency for the certification of fish products and other sea foods and carries out the certification of both domestic and imported fish products according to the State Standard certification system. Giprorybflot's testing center deals with certification-related tests (including arbitration tests) of all fish products, recycled fish flour and sea-weed products, and carries out analyses to determine their nutritional value. The Institute examines the paperwork of fish-processing factories and ships that export their products to the countries of the European Union, to ensure their registration with the E.U. Commission. It performs safety tests on fish produce, including canned fish products and preserves, convenience foods, culinary items and caviar.
   The problem of preserving the natural environment and re-utilizing the waste products of the fishing industry is no less important among the issues dealt with by the Institute's workers. The Institute has invented and put to use a broad selection of biological fertilizers and nutrition supplements used in agriculture and animal husbandry. The biologically active substances are made from fish-processing factories' waste. A trademark for these products was officially patented. Technologies and biological agents have been created for the re-cultivation and optimization of polluted soil. The Institute's researchers have worked out and perfected techniques of manufacturing fish products (including canned foods and preserves) and other sea foods (including those used in the preparation of specialized foods for astronauts and the military). A technique for the chemically pure production of chitine (chitozane) was developed.
   Giprorybflot carries out a broad complex of research works, related to the construction of industrial structures dealing with refrigeration and ship repairs, the construction of ports and the clearing of industrial drainage facilities.
   The Institute undertakes a wide variety of works in the areas of Computer Science and Information Systems. It has developed conceptual innovations needed for the creation of a multi-level information-analysis system. The Institute possesses a unique data base, containing information about ships, their creators, and equipment installed on them.
   By agreement, the Institute is charged with the legal protection of patents in the industry. It provides information and carries out publications, possesses exclusive rights on objects of the industry's property, including nearly 220 U.S.S.R. copyright certificates, invention patents of the Russian Federation and trademarks.

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