The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is currently seeking public input on a draft policy that outlines how they will use science in their decision-making process. The draft policy, known as the Best Available Science Policy, is open for review until May 24, as announced in a news release by the commission.
The commission has been working on this policy for some time now, with the aim of finalizing it by summer. John Lehmkuhl, a commissioner and chair of the Big Tent Committee, highlighted the importance of public feedback in improving the policy to ensure that the best available science is used in their decision-making processes.
The two-page document includes several bullet points that outline how the commission and Department of Fish and Wildlife should approach and incorporate science into their work. This includes avoiding bias when interpreting studies and using social science to inform decisions. The policy also addresses situations where there are conflicting interpretations or studies, stating that information provided by WDFW should be considered acceptable and sufficient.
Interested readers can view the full policy on the WDFW website. Public comments on the policy can be submitted online or via email to bestavailablescience@publicinput.com. This engagement will help shape the final policy that will guide the commission and department in their use of science in decision-making.