The Directorate serves as the national focal point for all oceanographic and marine science activities, and provides leadership and policies in marine scientific research and development (R&D) undertaken within Malaysian waters. Under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) NOD had proposed to the government for the establishment of the National Institute of Oceanography. This emphasized the government recognition on increasing human capitals in the field.

In addition to that, issues such as global warming, overfishing, coastal erosions indicate that human continue to harvest the marine ecosystem to sustain the growing human population. Advances in technology, combined with demand, has improved human ability to derive food and energy sources from the ocean. Thus it is imperative to take imminent measures to build knowledge and human experts to facilitate earth sustenance and its potential to help meet the needs of the world and its inhabitants.