On January 1, 2015 pursuant to Fisheries Office Order No. 2, Series of 2015, the BFAR- National Mariculture Center (NMC), formerly the Regional Fisheries Training Center (RFTC) Panabo was established as a part of the BFAR Re-Organization Program.

NMC is mandated to take charge of the breeding/culture, production, and distribution of high-value mariculture species in the South to encourage the development of community-based marina-type projects in municipal waters.