The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is currently seeking public input on a draft Best Available Science Policy. The commission aims to finalize the policy in the upcoming summer after working on it for some time. According to a news release, the commission is requesting feedback on the policy until May 24.
John Lehmkuhl, a commissioner and chair of the panel’s Big Tent Committee, emphasized that public feedback is crucial in improving the policy to ensure that the best available science is utilized in decision-making processes. He also stated that the policy will be utilized in various commission and Department of Fish and Wildlife processes.
The draft policy is a concise two-page document outlining how the commission and department should handle scientific information. It includes guidelines on avoiding bias when interpreting studies and utilizing social science to inform decisions. The policy also addresses scenarios where there are conflicting interpretations of science, specifying that information provided by WDFW should be considered acceptable and sufficient.
Individuals interested in providing feedback on the policy can do so by submitting comments online or via email to bestavailablescience@publicinput.com. A link to the complete policy can be found on the WDFW website.
