SACRAMENTO — Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman has announced the appointment of seven members to the California Ocean Science Trust (OST) Board of Trustees.

The OST works to ensure that sound science is integrated into the state’s ocean and coastal management policies.

“The caliber of Ocean Science Trust nominees was exceptional and I applaud members of the trust for their willingness to continue to advance California’s important ocean initiatives long into the future,” said Secretary Chrisman.

The OST works closely with the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and its Science Advisory Team to ensure that projects, products, and decisions are robust, credible, and based on the best available science.

The OST also houses the Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise, an entity leading in the creation of an innovative, focused, and cost-effective approach to monitoring and reporting on California’s marine protected areas designated through the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA).

Ten members form the OST Board of Trustees. California’s natural resources and environmental protection secretaries and the state director of finance each select one agency representative to serve on the board.

Following a nomination process, the seven remaining trustees are appointed by the Natural Resources Secretary as follows: three trustees representing California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC); two trustees representing state ocean and coastal interest groups; and two trustees representing the general public. Members appointed by the Natural Resources Secretary serve two-year terms, with the possibility of reappointment.

New appointments to the OST include:

CSU/UC Representatives

• Dr. Kenneth Coale, director, Moss Landing Marine Lab, San Jose State University;

• Dr. David Caron, Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley;

• Fred Keeley, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Santa Cruz County.

Coast and ocean interest group representatives

• Margaret Spring, California Marine Program director, The Nature Conservancy;

• Dr. Barry Gold, Marine Conservation Initiative Lead, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

General public representatives

• Ken Wiseman, executive director, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative;

• Dr. Steve Weisberg, executive director, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (re-appointed for a second two-year term).

Returning agency OST members include:

• Brian Baird, assistant secretary for ocean and coastal policy, California Natural Resources Agency;

• Jonathan Bishop, chief deputy director, State Water Resources Control Board;

• Karen Finn, program budget manager, California Department of Finance.

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

To learn more about trustees, the Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise, science integration, and other OST efforts, visit www.calost.org.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}