Gathering Input for Best Available Science: Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Seeks Public Feedback on New Policy”.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is inviting the public to provide input on a draft policy that outlines how the commission utilizes science in its decision-making process. The Best Available Science Policy is available for review until May 24.

Commissioners have been working on the policy for some time and plan to finalize it during the summer. According to John Lehmkuhl, a commissioner and chair of the panel’s Big Tent Committee, the policy will be utilized in various commission and Department of Fish and Wildlife processes. Feedback from the public will help improve the policy to ensure that only the best available science is used in decision-making.

The two-page document includes bullet points detailing how the commission and department should approach science, such as avoiding bias when interpreting studies and using social science to inform decisions. Additionally, it indicates that when there are differing interpretations or conflicting studies, information provided by WDFW will be considered acceptable and sufficient.

Interested parties can find the full policy on the WDFW website for review. Comments on the policy can be submitted online or by email to bestavailablescience@publicinput.com. By gathering public input, the commission aims to strengthen its use of science in decision-making processes.