Commission meeting news : 

News Release

FWC proposes limits for freshwater turtle harvests

June 11, 2008
Contact: Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a draft rule on Wednesday that will set new limits for the harvest of freshwater turtles. The proposed change will be up for final action by the Commission at the Sept. 17-19 meeting in Jacksonville.

The new rule would limit the harvest of native Florida freshwater turtles to five per day to protect freshwater turtle populations while the FWC develops a long-term comprehensive strategy for sustainable use of amphibian and reptile populations. Current possession limits for turtle species will not change.

“The FWC staff is aware of increasing demand for freshwater turtles nationally and internationally,” said Bill Turner, an FWC amphibian and reptile specialist. “We are evaluating our management of these animals to ensure these populations aren’t over-exploited because of these demands.”

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.

In March, the FWC received two petitions for emergency rule-making to restrict freshwater turtle harvests, but these emergency measures last only 90 days. Instead, the FWC opted for this draft rule as an interim measure.