A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutional authority of rules protecting the Delta smelt. The Pacific Legal Foundation, representing San Joaquin Valley farmers, had argued that the federal protections for smelt had to be tied to regulation of interstate commerce.
Sounds far-fetched to us. The Court thought so, too. After all, Delta smelt are not edible or sold.
Read more here.