MARFIN promotes and endorses programs which seek to optimize economic and social benefits from marine fishery resources through cooperative efforts that evoke the best research and management talents of the Southeast Region. The intent is to focus projects funded by MARFIN into cooperative efforts that provide clear answers for fishery needs covered by the NMFS Strategic Plan. MARFIN provides a necessary programmatic integration through cooperative planning, accomplishment of program activities and an annual MARFIN Conference.

The MARFIN Program received its initial impetus from a 1983 discussion paper entitled: "Research Needs For Information Leading To Full and Wise Use of Fishery Resources In The Gulf of Mexico," by Dr. Thomas D. McIlwain of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory while he was in the office of then Representative Trent Lott1. This paper, sometimes referred to as the Lott-McIlwain paper, proposed an additional investment in fisheries research and development in the Gulf of Mexico to increase the economic contribution of marine fisheries, develop more valuable products from existing fisheries, develop export markets, forecast variation in yields, and conserve and maintain presently exploited resources.

The next step in the evolution of MARFIN was the preparation and publication of the Marine Fisheries Initiative - Gulf of Mexico Phase2. This publication, developed by a joint industry, federal, state, and academic task force, detailed the research and development efforts necessary to enhance, restore, and maintain fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. The program focused on funding projects which had the greatest probability of maintaining and improving existing fisheries, increasing revenues for the domestic industry, increasing yields from fisheries, and generating increased recreational opportunity and harvest potential. Projects were to be selected for funding on their likelihood of achieving these benefits through both short-term and long-term research with consideration of the magnitude of the eventual benefit that might be realized. Both short-term projects yielding immediate benefits and long-term projects were to receive high-priority emphasis. Planning emphasis was placed upon attaining priority goals either through a single project or a series of projects necessary to attain that goal.

In 1992, the MARFIN program was expanded to include a South Atlantic component (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the Atlantic coast of Florida). The goals and objectives of the South Atlantic Phase of MARFIN are described in Special Report No. 13 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) South Atlantic Phase3. The Lott-McIlwain paper and the Marine Fisheries Initiative publication were instrumental in gaining public support for the MARFIN program. On December 4, 1985, the conference report of the House and Senate that appropriated funds for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year (FY) ending September 30, 1986, allocated $2,850,000 for the MARFIN Program.