Demand the Fish and Wildlife Commission Pass a Strong Conservation Policy!

Update: The Commission has delayed its vote on the Conservation Policy after multiple Washington tribal nations asked for a consultation before proceeding further. Thank you to everyone who took action! Please sign up for updates on future conservation actions.

After years of revisions, negotiation, and repeated rounds of public comments, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is finally on the verge of passing its Conservation Policy. The Commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), has enormous power over all fish and wildlife on state lands.

The draft Conservation Policy sets conservation as the Commission's highest priority and affirms the intrinsic value of Washington's native species. This is a major step forward, because WDFW has always been dominated by fishing, hunting, and commercial interests. Passing the Conservation Policy sets WDFW on the path of acknowledging that it manages wildlife in trust for all Washingtonians -- not just people who hunt and fish.

Unfortunately, the policy has a weak point: It fails to state that WDFW must avoid intervention in natural ecosystems when the risks to wildlife are difficult to assess, but not use the excuse of unknowns to avoid taking action to protect wildlife. If it does not abide by this precautionary principle when it faces uncertainty, WDFW may continue to make decisions that risk causing lasting damage to fish and wildlife. Please tell the Commission to safeguard wildlife by including the precautionary principle in the Conservation Policy!