Shanghai Ocean University is an interdisciplinary applied research university, which is jointly established by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the State Oceanic Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and is a national "double-class" university.

It was selected into the education and training plan of outstanding agricultural and forestry talents of the Ministry of Education, the national postgraduate plan for building high-level universities, the national "key discipline project with characteristics" and the construction plan of high-level local universities in Shanghai.