Integrating Science and Policy: The role of science in decision-making

Science vs Management Very narrow questions Few variables Controlled experimental conditions None of these Science involves:Management involves: 2

Management and science Policy “Owner” priorities Sustainability Risk balancing Economic benefits Law Treaties ESA FERC Magnuson-Stevens Science Sustainable yield Environmental quality Biological risk 3 Management Decisions

The management “niche” An n-dimensional hypervolume bounded by the limits of tolerance to science, law, and policy considerations (with apologies to G. Evelyn Hutchinson) 4

Influencing policy 5 We can be wrong: Interesting to scientists, death to policy making We disagree: Challenge and debate are essential to good science; lack of consensus confuses policy making We are uncertain: Nature of the beast, but difficult to accommodate in policymaking

Which, what, whose science? Different technical disciplines – “If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail” Population dynamics Ecology Hydrology Genetics Nutrition/fish health Traditional ecological knowledge – tribal cultural perspectives Which is “best available”? 6

Demographics “Density effects” Crowding + Competition + Predation = lower survival OR Genetics? “Hatchery effects” Genetic selection - Altered behavior - Fitness loss = lower survival

8 Policy “Owner” priorities Sustainability Risk balancing Economic benefits Law Treaties ESA FERC Magnuson- Stevens Science Sustainable yield Environmental quality Biological risk

Policy considerations: Correct diagnosis of the problem? What level of confidence? Appropriate remedies Risk structure: How are the risks and benefits distributed? Does the evidence indicate that a change in policy is warranted or prudent? Review Framework 9

Yakama Nation Fisheries Integrating Science and Policy Steve Parker