California court officially recognizes bees as fish

Three judges in California said bees could be legally classified as a fish species under a ruling that provides additional protection for endangered species. Read more about this decision told the publication Insider.

Photo: Shutterstock. Design: ForumDaily

"The question presented here is whether the bee, a terrestrial invertebrate, falls under the definition of a fish," the judges wrote in their decision. And they concluded that it was.

In the past, the problem for bee lovers, as with all California terrestrial invertebrates, was how protected animals were classified in state laws.

While four different species of bees were classified as endangered in 2018, terrestrial invertebrates are not protected under the State Endangered Species Act (CESA), which protects endangered "native species or subspecies of birds, mammals, fish , amphibians, reptiles or plants".

But the CESA Hunting Code, which establishes a framework for the protection of plants and animals, defines "fish" as "a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian or part, roe or ovum, of any of these animals."

On the subject: A man, fleeing a swarm of bees, jumped into the lake, where he was eaten by piranhas

Given that many of the above sea creatures are not even fish, there has been a debate in California ever since about whether the term "invertebrate" should be applied to bees.

The appeal overturns a previous November 2020 decision that was upheld by major agricultural groups. There, the judge argued that the term "invertebrates" in the definition of "fish" applied only to marine invertebrates such as anemones or sea urchins.

But now the judges have said they have a duty to interpret the provisions of the CESA code "liberally" to make sure it will be effective.

"The term 'fish' is colloquially understood to refer to aquatic species," the judges said. “But at the legislative level, in this case, it can be expanded, that is, to include bees there.”

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

The judges noted that frogs are also protected in the fish section due to the inclusion of amphibians.

They argued, among other things, that in the past terrestrial invertebrates were legally protected under the fish category, such as in 1980 when the snail Monadenia setosa was protected.

The judges described how the California legislature vacillated for years over whether to separately legislate invertebrates, which would presumably save them from having to expand the definition of "fish."

In one case in 1985, legislators found it unnecessary because "invertebrates were already included in the definition of 'fish,'" the justices said.

"This is a big day for California bees," said Pamela Flick, California program director for Wildlife Advocates. This is one of the groups that filed an appeal.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Top 20 Unexpected Effects of Weather: Heat Provokes Stupidity and Willingness to Fight

A simple but effective life hack: how to quickly get your luggage at the airport

Successful people are formed from childhood: 7 skills that a child needs to instill

If you want to live longer, drink more coffee: studies have discovered the healing properties of the drink

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.