The establishment was first founded as “Antalya Provincial Directorate for Fisheries” In 1981 “Kepez Fisheries Production and Research Project” was initiated in the scope of the “Project for Restocking in Turkey's Inland Waters” which was prepared by the Directorate General for Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

In 1988 research and production activities aiming at the culture of marine fishery products in Antalya-Kale-Beymelek areas started with the “Beymelek Lagoon Aquaculture Project”. The Project in question was carried out as a sub-unit of the Kepez Fisheries Production Station Directorate and in the following period with the fulfilment of the project requirements it was transformed by the Ministry to the independent “Beymelek Central Fisheries Production and Development Directorate”.

Those two establishments in Antalya have carried out production works in seas and in fresh waters. In accordance with the Board of Ministers decision no. 2004/8130 published in Official Gazette dated 4 December 2004, Bodrum Fisheries Research Institute Directorate, Antalya Beymelek Fisheries Production and Development Centre, Kepez Fisheries Production Station Directorate were abolished and they were replaced by Mediterranean Fisheries Research, Production and Training Institute. As from 7 January 2005, works concerning the staff, equipment and administrative structures of the above mentioned establishments started.