Threatened Bees Can Make Endangered List Under ‘Fish’ Definition

California can list four species of bumblebees as endangered after a state appellate court on Tuesday ruled that the insects fall under the legal definition of “fish” under the state’s Endangered Species Act.

Insects aren’t specifically listed for protection under California’s Endangered Species Act, but the commission may list any invertebrate as endangered or threatened under the required interpretation of the law, the California Court of Appeal, Third District said.

Agriculture groups including the Almond Alliance of California sued in September 2019 to block the state’s Fish and Game Commission from considering the addition of the Crotch, Franklin’s, Western, and ...