This paper introduces systematically the main uses for satellite ocean colour data in three broad thematic areas: (1)quantifying ocean carbon flux, understanding how it is controlled and why it varies from year to year; (2) Providing a synoptic, observational link between the development of the ocean ecosystem and the physics of the mixed layer; (3) assisting with the scientific analysis, environment monitoring and management of the coastal zone, including fisheries management. It also analyzes the technical requirements for satellite ocean colour sensors by applications mentioned above, and shows how requirements for observing coastal water can be very different from these for open oceans coverage,including spatial and temporal requirement, spectral requirement, and spatial coverageetc. The authors summarize the features of the new generation satellite sensors, point out the key problems in the utility of satellite ocean colour data, such as calibration,atmosphere correction, and ocean colour quantity retrieval,and finally introduce the plans of satellite ocean colour remote sensing abroad, and put forth our countermeasures.