California Sea Urchin Commission v. Bean

Authors

Thomas C. Mooney-Myers, Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of MontanaFollow

Case Summary Citation

California Sea Urchin Commission v. Bean, 883 F.3d 1173 (9th Cir. 2018).

Abstract

In California Sea Urchin Commission v. Bean, the Ninth Circuit upheld the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to end an experimental sea otter colony and translocation program. Commercial fishing groups sought reversal of the decision due to their interest in maintaining the translocation program which reduced otter predation on commercially valuable shellfish. While the Ninth Circuit held the group had standing, it then applied the Chevron test and determined the agency’s actions were reasonable.