As the primary research arm of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), NFRDI was created through Section 82 of Republic Act (R.A.) 8550, also known as the “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,” and amended by R.A. 10654. This law serves as the foundation for the creation of NFRDI, which operates as an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA).