[ed. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game used to be one of the most respected fish and wildlife agencies in the country, if not the world. Many excellent biologists continue to work there, but one would be hard pressed to make a case for much exceptionalism today, especially in matters of policy. Too many years of threatened and actual budget cuts, legislative and administrative agendas, and unqualified political appointments have diminished the independence, innovation and objectivity that once defined the department.]
The state biologists were kicked off the beluga panel because the rule compromised the scientific integrity of the team, federal officials said.
"The situation is unfortunate," said Leslie Cornick, an associate professor of marine biology and policy at Alaska Pacific University. "What you have is the politicians silencing their state-employed biologists, and the politicians, who don't know anything about interpreting scientific data, are interpreting scientific data in a way that fits their agenda."
The policy could have the long-term effect of chilling participation of state scientists in independent research and journal activity that scientists in academia have long enjoyed, said Cornick, who said she was speaking for herself and not her university.
Doug Vincent-Lang, the acting deputy commissioner of Fish and Game and an advocate of the new state rule, said in a recent interview that scientists are encouraged to engage in vigorous debate inside their agencies, but that once a position is established, the state has a right to demand adherence to it.
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