The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is looking for public feedback on a draft policy that outlines their approach to using science in decision-making processes. The Best Available Science Policy is open for review until May 24, with commissioners aiming to finalize it this summer.
According to John Lehmkuhl, a commissioner and chair of the panel’s Big Tent Committee, it is crucial to have public input in order to improve the policy and ensure that the best available science is used in decision-making processes. The two-page document includes bullet points on dealing with science, such as avoiding bias in interpreting studies and using social science to inform decisions.
The policy also addresses how to handle conflicting studies or interpretations of science, stating that information from the Department of Fish and Wildlife should be considered acceptable and sufficient in such cases. A link to the full policy can be found on the WDFW website, and comments can be submitted online or by email to bestavailablescience@publicinput.com.
Overall, the commission is committed to using the draft policy to enhance their decision-making process through the use of the best available scientific evidence.
