The Ocean Policy Research Foundation was officially conferred NGO Special Consultative Status to the United Nations at the Economic and Social Council's Substantive Session held 2008 July at UN headquarters in New York.
In accordance with this, OPRF is entitled to make and distribute statements at UN meetings. Conferment of Consultative Status is based on Article 71 of the UN Charter as well as ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 and allows NGOs to assume the roles of technical experts, advisors, and consultants to individual states and the UN at large.  
Ocean problems are constantly addressed by states, international organizations, NGOs, and researchers at both formal and informal meetings within the UN system. As the Special Status makes possible our formal statements as an ocean think tank at the UN, we will be called upon more than ever to become involved in international ocean relations and be expected to play an important role in forming the new international ocean regime.
In response, our foundation intends to strengthen its activities at the United Nations, and, making its goal the further advance of comprehensive ocean governance, carry out activities worthy of an international ocean think tank.