The Laboratory is located on 11.6 acres of land on St. Andrew Bay. The major facilities consist of a main building (13,380 sq.ft.), holding 14 offices/labs, a library, wet lab, storage areas and conference room; a boat basin with two docks and a boat ramp, boat house (2320 sq.ft.), fuel storage and pumping facility, and gear storage building (4800 sq.ft.). Also located on the property are a weather tower communication structure and an office of the National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Division.

The Panama City Laboratory is a fully-equipped modern science facility. The scientists use the state of the art equipment in both laboratory and field. In addition to the typical analytical tools, such as microscopes and balances, our researchers use advanced equipment such as optical pattern recognition systems for age and growth, geographic information systems for analysis of satellite imagery and other spatial data, and biochemical techniques for stock identification. The lab has a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, as well as chemical supplies for the preservation of specimens. Additionally, computers and relevant software figure very highly in lab operations. We also utilize floating cages and a temperature controlled recirculating seawater system for holding live specimens and conducting experiments.

The laboratory's research fleet consists of five boats for sampling purposes, ranging in size from 13 to 25'. Sampling gear includes handlines, longlines, gill nets, seine nets, plankton collecting nets, trawls, various traps and tagging equipment. Laboratory researchers have access to the NOAA oceanographic research vessels Oregon II and Gunter, berthed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for at-sea sampling.