[1] The mission of OST is to advance a constructive role for science in decision-making by promoting collaboration and mutual understanding among scientists, citizens, managers, and policymakers working toward sustained, healthy, and productive coastal and ocean ecosystems.
To achieve its mission and align with the purposes laid out in the enabling legislation, OST has two overarching organizational goals: 1) Facilitate two-way connections between the worlds of science and California coastal ocean policy and management and 2) Institutionalize the integration of the best science into California coastal ocean policy and decision-making.
[citation needed] Ocean Science Trust partnered with the state to lead the development and implementation of impartial, scientifically rigorous, and cost-effective monitoring of the statewide marine protected area (MPA) network established under the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA).
The OPC solicits the best available science to support its policy decisions and recommendations, making the Council an objective, nonpartisan body.
OST’s initiatives are diverse, including coordination of project teams to conduct needed scientific studies to inform better ocean policy and management decisions, such as the Oil and Gas Decommissioning Study, the Marine Debris Report, and the Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning initiative.