Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 8:30 p.m., EST

The South Carolina House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs plans to hold a hearing on proposed limits for turtles harvested from the state on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, which issued a PetAlert on the hearing on the preceding Feb. 17.

The bill essentially prohibits removing more than 10 turtles of listed species from the state. The limits affect total number of turtles from all listed species in combination.

The listed species are yellowbelly turtle, Florida cooter, river cooter, chicken turtle, Eastern painted turtle, spiny softshell turtle, Florida softshell turtle and common snapping turtle.

The legislation does not prohibit the trade of the yellowbelly and common snapping turtles from permitted aquaculture facilities. Those facilities must provide documentation, however, about the origin of the turtles.

Persons found guilty of violating the limits would face a $200 fine per excess turtle. <HOME>