Under the guidance of Xi Jinping thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and acting on the central government's requirements for the unified exercise of the responsibility of all natural resource asset owners and the responsibility for land use control and ecological protection and restoration，CODF is dedicated to mobilizing social forces to understand and manage the ocean so as to build a harmonious coexistence between human beings and the ocean.

CODF focuses on funding projects like the research on marine spatial planning systems and major issues of marine resources, marine space management and structural optimization, marine ecological protection and restoration, marine talent training, marine science and technology innovation, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, and science research projects in polar region and the ocean; Apart from which, CODF also funds and undertakes projects like marine spatial planning conduction for countries along the maritime silk road and island countries, bilateral and multilateral cooperation on marine science with countries surrounding the South China Sea, research and action on global ocean governance, international marine exchanges, research and building of blue partnerships; In addition, CODF plays a proactive role in the dissemination of marine knowledge by establishing marine libraries, conducting marine knowledge lectures, carrying out knowledge contests, organizing summer camps, providing training courses and so on.