两者很容易让人误解为同一术语，即“海洋法”[1]，其实它们是两个差别极大的概念。其中，sea law应为“海商法”而非“海洋法”，其也称为 maritime law、admiralty law 或 admiralty，是指调整海洋贸易、航行、交通运输等事务的法律（governing commerce and navigation, the transportation at sea of persons and property, and marine affairs in general)，其规则涉及合同、侵权以及因海上贸易而产生的劳工赔偿等事项[2]。而law of the sea 才是“海洋法”，是国际法中调整各国使用和控制海洋以及海洋资源(governing how nations use and control the sea and its resources) 的一整套法律[3]。

[1]“sea law：海洋法”参见《英汉法律词典》编写组编：《英汉法律词典》，法律出版社1999年版，第715页。“law of the sea:海洋法”，同上，第445页。

[2]“ The body of law governing commerce and navigation, the transportation at sea of persons and property, and marine affairs in general；the rules governing contract, tort, and workers’compensation claims arising out of commerce on or over water. Also termed maritime law, admiralty；admiralty law. " Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary，1th edition, at p. 982, West Group (1999).

[3]“A body of international law promulgated by United Nations convention and covering a range of ocean matters including territorial zones，access to and transit on the sea, environmental preservation, and the resolution of international disputes. ”Cf. Linda Pacard Wood, Merriam. Webster's Dictionary of Law，at p. 282, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).