Ocean Development and International Law is an academic journal dedicated to the law of the sea and its related fields, providing a multidisciplinary platform for research and discussion on ocean use, management, and international legal frameworks. The core mission of this journal is to delve into various aspects of the law of the sea, including international law, comparative law, policy-making, and economic, political, scientific, and technological issues related to the ocean.

The journal particularly emphasizes the importance of ocean regulation, focusing on how to promote the sustainable use of marine resources and the protection of the marine environment through legal and policy means. It covers the international level of ocean affairs, including the delineation of ocean boundaries, management of ocean resources, establishment of marine protected areas, as well as transnational marine pollution and ecological protection issues.