Connecting Science to Ocean Management

The California Ocean Science Trust (OST) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation established pursuant to the California Ocean Resources Stewardship Act of 2000 to encourage coordinated, multi-agency, multi-institution approaches to translating ocean science to management and policy applications.

The mission of the OST is to ensure that the best available science is applied to California policies and ocean management to successfully maintain a healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coast.

To achieve our mission, and align with the purposes laid out in the enabling legislation, the OST has two overarching organizational goals:

• Goal 1: Facilitate collaboration, to facilitate two-way connections between the world of science and that of policy and management by establishing and supporting multi-partner information systems and exchanges that yield tangible improvements in coastal and ocean management —The OST will serve as a bridge among science, management, and policy organizations.
   

• Goal 2: Institutionalize integration, to institutionalize the integration of best science, where necessary, into California coastal ocean policy and decision making by building new organizations, programs, and processes and catalyzing applied research—reflecting the great need to develop, disseminate, and apply science that is designed to inform and improve policy and management.

For additional information please contact our staff.

	Program 1: Science Integration The OST provides science services to California state agencies and coordinating bodies such as the Ocean Protection Council (OPC). The OST will serve the state by coordinating expert advice, and acting as liaison and bridging institution. The OST will improve coordination among scientists, policymakers and resource managers, focusing specifically on issues that are a priority for the latter. Since February 2007, the OST has provided Science Services to the OPC and formally designated the Executive Director of the OST as the Science Adviser to the OPC and co-chair of the OPC Science Advisory Team (OPC SAT). The Science Advisor not only provides technical guidance to the OPC, but also serves as the OPC representative to relevant science projects and activities throughout the state, the West Coast, and nationally.
Photo courtesy of NOAA	Program 2: Piloting, Developing, and Incubating New Ventures This program focuses on developing and institutionalizing new and innovative approaches for better linking science with policy and management. As its first such project, the OST is incubating the Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise, which is a new entity focused on developing and delivering monitoring data essential for ensuring the long-term adaptive management of the new statewide system of marine protected areas (MPAs) designated through the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA).
OST 1330 Broadway, Suite 1135 | Oakland, CA 94612 | 510-251-8320 | info@calost.org