FWC Leads the Nation in Freshwater Turtle Conservation
Florida soon will have the strongest conservation measures for the harvest of freshwater turtles in the country as a result of a vote taken by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Wednesday in Crystal River. The FWC approved a new rule banning the commercial harvest of freshwater turtles in Florida.
"This is a legacy vote," said Brian Yablonski, FWC commissioner, as he made the motion to approve the rule. "This decision may be one of Florida's greatest conservation stories."
Twenty-four members of the public addressed the Commission as they prepared to vote on the rule. More than half of the speakers supported the rule.
"This is the right thing to do," said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the FWC. "Florida has become the leader with this vote."
Tim Breault, director of the FWC's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, presented the new rule to the Commission.
"Florida has such a rich diversity of turtles," Breault said. "It is fitting we have the most comprehensive set of protections and conservation measures for freshwater turtles in the United States."
The rule prohibits taking turtles from the wild that are listed on Florida's imperiled species list. Also prohibited are species that look similar to the imperiled species, which include common snapping turtles and cooters. In addition, collecting freshwater turtle eggs will be prohibited. Individuals will be allowed to take one freshwater turtle per day per person from the wild for noncommercial use. The transport of more than one turtle per day is prohibited.
"To the commercial fishermen who came today, I want to say your voice has been heard," said Commissioner Dwight Stephenson. "But we're charged with protecting these species, and this new rule is necessary at this time."
Some turtle farms depend on collection of wild freshwater turtles. With the new rule, turtle farms, under a tightly controlled process, will be allowed to collect turtles to establish reproduction in captivity so that farms can become self-sustaining to lessen their dependence on collection of turtles from the wild.
"I believe this industry should be moved to aquaculture. That's the logical place for it to be," Barreto said.
The closed season for the take of softshell turtles, May 1 to July 31, will not change under the new rule.
"I'm proud of this Commission," Margaret Gunzburger, a Florida resident, told the Commission. "And I'm proud to be a Floridian today."
House Bill 669 Potential Ban of all Nonnative Species
THE ISSUE
The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (H.R. 669), introduced by Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) Chair of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife of the House Natural Resources Committee would totally revamp how nonnative species are regulated under the Lacey Act.
Currently, the Fish and Wildlife Service (hereafter Service) is required to demonstrate that a species is injurious [harmful] to health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources of the U.S.
HR 669 substantially complicates that process by compelling the Service to produce two lists after conducting a risk assessment for each nonnative wildlife species to determine if it is likely to “cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health.” In order to be placed on the “Approved List” it must be established that the species has not, or is not likely, to cause “harm” anywhere in the US.
Species that are considered potentially harmful would be placed on an “Unapproved List.” Furthermore, HR 669 would essentially ban all species that do not appear on the Approved List, regardless of whether or not they have ever been petitioned for listing or are sufficiently well studied to enable a listing determination. Species not appearing on the “Approved List” could not be imported into the United States, nor could they be moved in interstate commerce. Trade in all such unlisted species would come to a halt – possession would be limited and all breeding would have to cease. To reiterate: Unless species are included on the Approved List import, export, transport, and breeding would be prohibited. Exceptions are limited and would not be available to pet owners across the nation.
Link to the Pet Alert
10/10/08 - Freshwater Turtle Harvest Rule Goes into Effect 23 October
An additional rule restricting the harvest of freshwater turtles goes into effect on Oct. 23. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) passed the rule at the September Commission meeting. This restriction limits the harvest of wild Florida freshwater turtles to five per day per person. Each fisherman with a commercial license will be allowed to harvest an additional 15 Florida softshell turtles per day, for a total of 20 turtles per day. “Florida softshell turtles lay more eggs than any other freshwater turtle in North America, and this species of freshwater turtle has sustained much higher harvest levels for many years,” said Bill Turner, an FWC amphibian and reptile specialist. “Over the next year we will be collecting information and working with our stakeholders to determine the best strategy for conservation of freshwater turtles in Florida.”
This rule has been passed to protect freshwater turtle populations while the FWC develops a long-term comprehensive strategy for sustainable use of amphibian and reptile populations. Recent reports of unusually large freshwater turtle harvests coincide with reports that the demand for freshwater turtles as food and pets has increased. The additional rule limits the number of turtles that may be taken from the wild, not from turtle farms or other aquaculture facilities. Farmed turtles represent more than 90 percent of the total freshwater turtles exported from Florida. No changes have been made to the number of turtles people may possess; the existing limits still apply. Furthermore, rules about selling or buying turtles have not changed. “We expect to bring the strategy for freshwater turtles back to the Commission in one year,” Turner said. “We listened to the public, experts and fishermen and will continue to do so during the whole process.”
This additional restriction to the existing rules is an interim measure while the FWC works on a long-term strategy for conservation of these species.
FWC Turtle Harvest Regulations
- Licenses and permits are not required for taking turtles.
- Most freshwater turtles may be taken year-round manually or with baited hooks, bows, dip nets, traps (designed so freshwater fish caught can escape) or by spearing (from boats or shore only during daylight hours).
- Taking turtles with bucket traps, snares or shooting with firearms is prohibited.
- Using gasoline or other chemical or gaseous substances to drive wildlife from their retreats is prohibited.
- River cooters may not be taken from April 15 to July 31. Soft-shell turtles or their eggs may not be taken from the wild from May 1 to July 31.
- No one can possess more than 50 eggs taken from the wild, in the aggregate, of species of freshwater turtles native to Florida, except as authorized by permit from the FWC executive director.
- Purchasing or selling turtle eggs taken from the wild is prohibited.
- Eggs of the following restricted turtle species are subject to the same possession limits that apply for those turtles.
- Possession limits for turtles and eggs: River cooters - two /// Alligator snapping turtles - one /// Loggerhead musk turtles - two /// Box turtles - two /// Barbour’s map turtles - two /// Escambia River map turtles - two /// Diamondback terrapins - two
- No one may buy, sell or possess for sale alligator snapping turtles, box turtles, Barbour’s map turtles, river cooters, loggerhead musk turtles, Escambia River map turtles, diamondback terrapins or parts thereof.
- Buying, selling, taking or possessing gopher tortoises, or parts thereof, is prohibited except by permit from the FWC executive director.
- For additional information, please visit Rule 68A-25.002(6) of the Florida Administrative Code at https://www.flrules.org/. You may also read other wildlife regulations by going to MyFWC.com/codebook/.
- Red-eared sliders in personal possession prior to July 1, 2007 may continue in the possession of the owner.
- Red-eared sliders less than 4 inches carapace length may not be possessed after July 1, 2008 without a permit.
- Red-eared sliders with distinctive aberrant color patterns, including albino or amelanistic specimens, may be possessed without a permit.
Nonnative species that are released into the wild are often undesirable because of their potential to transmit diseases, compete or interbreed with Florida's native wildlife. To minimize these problems, Florida Statute 379.231 prohibits the release of nonnative animals. Therefore, relocating nonnative animals into a wild situation is not an appropriate solution to disposing of unwanted pets.
9/18/08 - FWC Passes New Rule on Limits for Freshwater Turtle Harvests
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) passed a rule on Wednesday that sets new limits for the harvest of freshwater turtles.
The new rule limits the harvest of native Florida freshwater turtles to five per day. However, fishermen with a commercial license are allowed to harvest 20 Florida soft-shell turtles per day. The new rules have been passed to protect freshwater turtle populations while the FWC develops a long-term comprehensive strategy for sustainable use of amphibian and reptile populations. The new rules limit the number of turtles that may be taken from the wild, not from turtle farms or other aquaculture facilities. No changes have been made to the number of turtles people may possess; the existing limits still apply. Furthermore, rules about selling or buying turtles also have not changed.
“With the newly approved rule in place protecting freshwater turtles, we will continue to develop a long-term strategy for the management and conservation of Florida’s amphibian and reptile species,” said Bill Turner, an FWC amphibian and reptile specialist. “We expect to bring the strategy for freshwater turtles back to the Commission in one year.”
Increased demand for freshwater turtles nationally and internationally caused the FWC to begin to evaluate the management of these species to ensure the populations aren’t over-exploited. Alabama, Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas recently restricted their turtle harvests, which may cause turtle harvesters from those states to focus on Florida, Turner said.
The new rules are interim measures while the FWC works diligently on a long-term strategy for conservation of these species. http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/08/statewide/News_08_X_TurtleHarvestRule2.htm
- all information taken from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission site.