The Best Available Science Policy: How the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is Improving their Decision-Making Process

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (WFWC) is currently seeking public feedback on a draft policy that aims to improve their decision-making process through the use of science. The Best Available Science Policy is open for review until May 24, and the commission hopes to finalize it this summer.

John Lehmkuhl, a commissioner and chair of the panel’s Big Tent Committee, emphasized the importance of public input in improving the policy. He highlighted that 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 is available on the WDFW website, and comments can be submitted online or by email to bestavailablescience@publicinput.com.

Overall, the commission is committed to using this draft policy to enhance their decision-making process through the use of scientific evidence. By incorporating public feedback into their policy development process, they aim to ensure that they are making informed decisions based on the best available scientific evidence.