Posted: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 6:03 p.m., EDT

The harvesting of Florida’s freshwater turtles has come under scrutiny by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The commission has drafted a new regulation that would limit an individual from harvesting more than five native Florida freshwater turtles per day, except for species that already have more restrictive limits. The proposal is up for final action by the commission at its Sept. 17-19 meeting in Jacksonville, Fla.

Bill Turner, herp coordinator for the commission, said the measure is in response to concerns over an increasing demand for Florida turtles amid tighter harvest restrictions in other states. It is intended to serve as an interim-regulation while a long-term strategy for the conservation of amphibian and reptile populations is developed, he said.

“Turtle populations are very difficult to assess, so we decided to put a limit on turtle harvesting while we look at the broader picture of amphibian and reptile use in the state of Florida,” Turner said. 

The commission was made aware of the increase in demand for turtles from local law enforcement reports on turtle harvesting as well as two petitions requesting emergency rule-making to restrict freshwater turtle harvest, Turner said.

“In the last decade the demand for these turtles has gone up. As a result more people are harvesting turtles,” Turner said.

At the same time, several states, including Alabama, Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, have restricted their turtle harvests, which in turn may cause turtle harvesters from those states to focus on Florida.

“We’re one of the last states still allowing harvest, and we’re certainly the last state still allowing harvest that has as many turtles as we do,” Turner said.

Public information sessions on the proposed rule change are scheduled for:

Sept. 11
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Okeechobee County Civic Center
1750 U.S. 98 North
Okeechobee, Fla.

Sept. 12
9 a.m. to noon
FWC Southwest Region office
3900 Drane Field Rd.
Lakeland, Fla.

The final hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the commission’s Sept. 17 through 19 meeting, starting at 8:30 a.m. each day, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coast Line Drove, Jacksonville, Fla.

For more information, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website. <HOME>