Sierra Club Florida

You Helped Save Florida Freshwater Turtles

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has concluded its study of allowing a commercial “take” of this fragile species. ( The demand for them has grown, mainly as a delicacy in Asian countries, which have already depleted their own wild stocks of freshwater turtles. A number of southeastern US states had already taken steps to prohibit, or severely restrict, the fishery for these turtles, so turtle fishermen were converging on Florida, where the rules were weak.)

A new rule is now in effect, thanks in part to the efforts of Sierrans who wrote letters, and gave testimony to FWC. "We determined there was the possibility the species could not withstand the pressure from unchecked harvest," said Tim Breault, director of the FWC's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. "This new rule will conserve Florida's diverse turtle population in perpetuity."

Individuals will be allowed to take one freshwater turtle per day per person from the wild for noncommercial use. People cannot transport more than one turtle per day. The rule prohibits taking turtles from the wild that are listed on Florida's imperiled species list. Individuals cannot take species that look similar to the imperiled species; these include common snapping turtles and cooters. In addition, the ban includes collecting freshwater turtle eggs.

"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." said the FWC announcement.

Background

These turtles are slow growing, slow to mature (taking anywhere from 7 to 20 years before beginning to reproduce) and produce relatively few young at a time.

Florida had no restrictions at all on fishing for freshwater turtles until September 2008, when the FWC imposed a temporary bag limit for licensed harvesters of 20 freshwater turtles a day—an incredible 7,300 turtles a year, for each harvester. There was no limit on the number of harvesters.

Florida’s freshwater turtles, very important to the ecosystems they inhabit, are already under stress from many natural and man-made threats, including: loss of habitat, pollution, road mortality, chemicals that affect reproduction, more frequent and persistent droughts, and predation by native as well as non-native species. Egg mortality is high, and nests often raided by predators.

 

For Information on FWC and their freshwater turtle website, visit:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission