The Centre Régional de Fusion d'Informations Maritimes (CRFIM) operates under a robust legal and institutional framework established through the Agreement Establishing the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center, signed by 7 states at the 4th Summit of the Regional Conference on Maritime Security in March 2018.

The CRFIM reports to the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), which was designated to coordinate the Maritime Security project in accordance with the terms of the Djibouti Declaration. The framework is supported by the MASE Programme funded by the European Union and partnership agreements with CRIMARIO, CMF, and other international organizations.