Good science is essential for sound environmental decision-making.
Science is a process of inquiry aimed at building a body of knowledge that is constantly open to confirmation and refutation through peer-review publications. Scientific knowledge is obtained incrementally over time from many small discoveries. Scientists require a large body of supporting evidence generated by many different scientists before they are comfortable supporting any particular hypothesis. For Pfiesteria-related issues the process of science is in the early stages and, although much good research has been conducted, there is a high degree of uncertainty surrounding many issues. Opposing views by scientists are confusing to the public and to policy-makers, but they are the processes of science at work.