en Biology & physiology Biology & physiology پژوهشي Orginal research papers <span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: AR-SA mso-ansi-language: EN-GB mso-fareast-language: EN-US" lang="EN-GB">The ultimate goal of an agriculture research system is on-time, correct and clear response to the problems and expectations of agriculture household and stakeholders. In this respect, though, due to variation and frequency of the problems and expectations and as well as many limitations such as financial deficit, short time and shortage in work force and equipments etc, the system cannot be thoroughly responsive. Therefore, the necessity for optimizing the system to response through prioritizing the research projects has been a major challenge before the responsible managers and authorities. In this paper, the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) has been introduced as a well known Multi</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: AR-SA mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> Attribute Decision Methods (MADM)</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: AR-SA mso-ansi-language: EN-GB mso-fareast-language: EN-US" lang="EN-GB"> that combines qualitative and quantitative criteria for prioritizing the research projects of the </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: AR-SA mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Iranian Fisheries Research Organization. </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: AR-SA mso-ansi-language: EN-GB mso-fareast-language: EN-US" lang="EN-GB">For implementation of the mentioned principles and methods of prioritizing the research projects have been studied and then by determining the final decision making criteria, the priority of the projects in the Institute have been determined by drawing decision hierarchy tree. Required data was gathered through pair wise comparison questionnaires filled by the experts and researchers. In the next step, Expert Choice software used to analyze and determine the priorities. </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" COLOR: black FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: FA mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Based on results criteria of research possibility, scientific development, economic development, and stability development with respective weight .377, .263, .187, and .173 are the most important criteria for the institute in the south area of <place w:st="on">Caspian Sea</place>.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: AR-SA mso-ansi-language: EN-GB mso-fareast-language: EN-US" lang="EN-GB"> Finally,</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" COLOR: black FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: FA mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-language: EN-US" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif" COLOR: black FONT-SIZE: 12pt mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman' mso-bidi-language: FA mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-language: EN-US">according to the produced results, the priorities of the six studied research programs determined.</span> Fisheries Research Priority setting, Multi Attribute Decision Methods (MADM), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) 47 66 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-59&slc_lang=en&sid=1 M. Mortazavi mahdymortazavi@yahoo.com 10031947532846001078 10031947532846001078 Yes H. Ranaei 10031947532846001079 10031947532846001079 No H. Abbasi 10031947532846001080 10031947532846001080 No