Marine monitoring instruments and equipments are crucial for understanding and managing the ocean. In recent years, significant achievements have been obtained in the technologies and application of marine monitoring instruments and equipments in China. However, China still lags behind developed countries in terms of core technologies and equipment for marine monitoring. This study analyzes the development requirements and development status of China’s marine monitoring instruments and equipment from the aspects of global ocean stereoscopic observation system, national nearshore operational observation system, and technologies and core equipment for marine environment monitoring and detection. Moreover, it elaborates on the problems existing in China’s marine monitoring instruments and equipment in terms of policies and mechanisms, original innovation and basic scientific research, common key technologies, technical standards and testing, as well as cincization and industrialization. Furthermore, we propose key development directions and several suggestions including (1) establishing an innovative system of marine monitoring instruments, (2) expanding the marine monitoring instrument industry, and (3) building a marine public test infrastructure, hoping to provide a reference for the development and research of China’s operational marine stereoscopic monitoring system.