Shanghai Ocean University, which was Jiangsu Provincial Fisheries School established formerly in 1912, is a university with 96-year history and glorious tradition. In 1952, it became the first fisheries college, namely, Shanghai Fisheries College and was renamed in 1985 Shanghai Fisheries University. In 2008, it was renamed Shanghai Ocean University. It has developed into a multi-disciplinary university focusing on the coordinated development in agriculture, science, engineering, economics, arts and management with complete disciplines and distinguishing features.

The university consists of 8 specialized colleges, namely, College of Fisheries and Life Science and Technology, College of Marine Science and Technology, College of Food Science and Technology, College of Economic Management, College of Information Technology, College of Humanities, College of Engineering, and College of Foreign Languages as well as other 4 colleges, including College of International Cultural Exchange, College of Continuing Education, College of Higher Technical and Vocational Education, and the joint IEN Institute by the University and Australia. In addition, the Central Agricultural Cadres Training Center, SHOU Branch and the Ocean Fisheries Training Center of Ministry of Agriculture are also located in the university.