FRI Rantau Abang, or formerly known as the Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (TUMEC), was built around the year 2001. The FRI Rantau Abang is located in Dungun, Terengganu opposite the coast of Rantau Abang, which is recognized as one of the famous locations for the landing of Leatherback Turtle in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The objective of the establishment of FRI Rantau Abang is to carry out R&D on turtles and endangered marine mammal species to produce scientific data and information that can help formulate policies and strategies for the preservation and conservation of turtles and endangered marine mammal species in Malaysia. Turtles and other threatened marine mammal species are protected under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985; Fisheries regulations for the control of endangered marine fish species (amendment) 2008. In addition, IPP RA is also responsible as the rescue centre of Turtles and Malaysian Endangered Species, in addition to being involved in conservation programs through education, public awareness, training and technical services.

FRI Rantau Abang consists of four (4) research officers and 17 technical and administrative support staff. In the 12th Malaysia Plan, FRI Rantau Abang received funds from the Fisheries Conservation and Protection Division, Department of Fisheries Malaysia to carry out R&D in collaboration with IPTA (UIAM and UMT) and NGOs (WWF Malaysia, Marine Research Foundation (MRF), Marine Mammal Research and Conservation (MareCet) and Lang Tengah Turtle Watch (LTTW)).