MEMORANDUM

To:               Ocean and Coastal Community
From:           Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Natural Resources
Date:            Nov. 2, 2009
Subject:       New California Ocean Science Trustee Named

It is a pleasure to appoint Ms. Leslie Tamminen 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. Ms. Tamminen will serve as one of two ocean and coastal interest group positions to the OST Board of Trustees. She fills a position previously occupied by Ms. Margaret Spring, who has since been appointed Chief of Staff to NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco.

As the ocean program director of Seventh Generation Advisors, Leslie has provided leadership on an issue of critical concern to California’s coastal and ocean ecosystems – marine debris.  I applaud her commitment to science-based decision-making and her willingness to continue to advance California’s important ocean initiatives long into the future. I’d also like to thank Margaret for her dedication to our mission and her willingness to serve during her tenure as an OST Trustee. We know that in her new role at NOAA she will bring to bear her wealth of experience and knowledge to greatly benefit our nation’s oceans and coasts.

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 serve on 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, seven additional trustees are appointed by the Secretary for Natural Resources 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 Secretary for Natural Resources serve two-year terms, with the possibility of reappointment. The current members of the OST Board include:

California Natural Resources Agency
Mr. Brian Baird, Assistant Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Policy, California Natural Resources Agency

California Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. Jonathan Bishop, Chief Deputy Director, State Water Resources Control Board

California Department of Finance
Ms. Karen Finn, Program Budget Manager, California Department of Finance

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

Coast and Ocean Interest Group Representatives
Ms. Leslie Tamminen, Ocean Program Director, Seventh Generation Advisors (new member)
Dr. Barry Gold, Marine Conservation Initiative Lead, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

General Public Representatives
Mr. Ken Wiseman, Executive Director, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
Dr. Steve Weisberg, Executive Director, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project

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.