Connecting Science to Ocean Management

The Ocean Science Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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.

Our mission is to ensure the best available science is applied to California policies and ocean management to maintain a healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coast for the benefit of current and future generations.

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

• Goal 1: Integrate, to institutionalize the integration of best science into California coastal ocean policy and decision-making—reflecting the great need to develop, disseminate, and apply science that is designed to inform and improve policy and management;

• Goal 2: Facilitate, 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—OST will thus serve as a bridge among science, management, and policy organizations; and,

• Goal 3: Collaborate, to increase the number of collaborations and partnerships among scientists and California decision-makers that yield tangible improvements in ocean management.

For additional information please contact our staff.

	Science Services to the Ocean Protection Council In February 2007, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) formally designated the Executive Director of 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. OST serves as a bridge among science, management, and policy organizations.
Photo courtesy of NOAA	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, 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).
	Multisectoral Coordination OST is improving the coordination among scientists, policymakers, and resource managers, focusing specifically on priority management issues requiring improved or enhanced scientific support.
OST 1330 Broadway, Suite 1135 | Oakland, CA 94612 | 510-251-8325 | info@calost.org