California court rules that bees are a type of fish

[seminole97]

in order to protect them under the state's endangered species act.

A trio of judges in California said on Tuesday that bees can be legally classed as a type of fish as part of a ruling that brings added conservation protections for the endangered species.

"The issue presented here is whether the bumble bee, a terrestrial invertebrate, falls within the definition of fish," the judges wrote in their ruling. And, they concluded, it does.

Formerly, the problem for bee-lovers — and lovers of all Californian terrestrial invertebrates — was down to the way protected animals have been classified in the state's laws.

Although four different bee species were classified as endangered in 2018, land invertebrates are not explicitly protected under the state's Endangered Species Act (CESA), which protects endangered "native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant."


We’re moving beyond the point of having written laws, enacted by our legislatures.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I will remember this the next time I order a fish sandwich.

 

[mnole03]

Legislature forgot the word aquatic in their definition of fish.

 

[seminole97]

Legislature forgot the word aquatic in their definition of fish.

View embedded media

Note how the defense is to cite two separate reviews of the bill by state agency, neither of which suggest insects are covered, but instead say:


'The expanded definition of fish will permit closer control and monitoring of the harvest
of species such as “starfish, sea urchins, sponges and worms,”

Definitely not talking about insects.

“By expanding the definition of fish as proposed... Commission to regulate the taking of amphibians (frogs) and invertebrates, such as startish, sea urchins, anemones, jellyfish and sponges."

Definitely not talking about insects.

It makes zero sense for the legislature to not address this. It’s not like the issue is unimportant.

 

[The Tradition]

You have got to bee freaking kidding me!

 

[globalhawk]

Here is a good article explaining the situation:https://lawandcrime.com/animals/una...truing-the-california-endangered-species-act/

 

[BelemNole]

Note how the defense is to cite two separate reviews of the bill by state agency, neither of which suggest insects are covered, but instead say:


'The expanded definition of fish will permit closer control and monitoring of the harvest
of species such as “starfish, sea urchins, sponges and worms,”

Definitely not talking about insects.

“By expanding the definition of fish as proposed... Commission to regulate the taking of amphibians (frogs) and invertebrates, such as startish, sea urchins, anemones, jellyfish and sponges."

Definitely not talking about insects.

It makes zero sense for the legislature to not address this. It’s not like the issue is unimportant.

Furthermore, the court noted, the legislature amended the CESA in 2015 — well aware of a 2007 ruling that liberally defined “fish” for the purposes of various CESA sections — and declined to limit the definition of “fish.”

“Had the Legislature disagreed with this court’s conclusion in 2007 that section 45 applied to define fish as used in sections 2062 and 2067, it could have amended section 45 (or the definitions in the Act) at any point thereafter to clarify its contrary intent,” Robie writes. “The Legislature took no such action. When the Legislature amends a statute without changing the statute in response to a prior judicial construction, it is presumed the Legislature knew of the interpretation and acquiesced to it.”

 

[BelemNole]

Cool. Save the bees.

 

[goldmom]

I will remember this the next time I order a fish sandwich.

You could totally get a buzz on.

 

[globalhawk]

Cool. Save the bees.

Helps if the you read your own link first.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Cool. Save the bees.

Yeah, I don't care what you call them, just do something to help save them. They're kinda important.

 

[The Tradition]

Yeah, I don't care what you call them, just do something to help save them. They're kinda important.

Do fish have knees?

No.

But bees have knees.

 

[Hawk and Awe]

Always seems fishy when someone ends a quote in a comma. It suggests there might bee something missing in their argument

 

[FAUlty Gator]

If a bee indentifies as a fish then it’s a fish. And thus, can compete in the fish Olympics. Although I’m guessing they will have disadvantage in the swimming events.

 

[The Tradition]

If a bee indentifies as a fish then it’s a fish. And this can compete in the fish Olympics. Although I’m guessing they will have disadvantage in the swimming events.

The other fish keep eating the bee competitor! This madness must stop!

 

[24 so far]

Cool. Save the bees.

Is the Birther Bee considered a fish too, or just the offspring? Another crisis averted by the brilliant Lib's! LOL!

 

[globalhawk]

If a bee indentifies as a fish then it’s a fish. And thus, can compete in the fish Olympics. Although I’m guessing they will have disadvantage in the swimming events.

Did you read the article?

 

[BelemNole]

Is the Birther Bee considered a fish too, or just the offspring? Another crisis averted by the brilliant Lib's! LOL!

Who ever said cons aren’t funny. You guys should go on tour - this is quality stuff.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Did you read the article?

No. But I assume it’s about the fish Olympics and liberal judges allowing bees to change in the fish locker rooms and compete against them in various flying and honey based events. You read one, you read them all.