WESTPAC's Mission
1. To develop, promote and facilitate international oceanographic research programmes that aim to improve our understanding of critical global and regional ocean processes and their relationship to sustainable development and management of coastal and marine resources;
2. To ensure effective planning for the establishment and co-ordination of operational regional components of a global ocean observing system to provide the information needed for:
2.1 ocean and atmospheric forecasting;
2.2 ocean and coastal zone management by coastal nations;
2.3 research into global environmental change.
3. To provide international leadership in the development of educational and training programmes and technical assistance essential for marine research and systematic observations of the ocean and its coastal zone, especially in developing countries;
4. To ensure efficient and widespread sharing of ocean data, knowledge and information obtained from research, observation and monitoring with emphasis on the proper interpretation and management thereof to meet the information needs of governments, industry, science and the general public.