Florida Turtle Conservation Trust (FTCT) alert

PRESS RELEASE Date: 19 March 2009 Subject: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission proposes strong conservation measures for freshwater turtles The commercial harvest of freshwater turtles is a significant and growing conservation threat in Florida and has received considerable attention by turtle scientists, conservationists, and the general public over the past year. In addition, the discovery of several large piles of freshwater turtle shells documents that localized harvest of significant numbers for personal use continues in the Florida panhandle and peninsula. Turtles are slow-growing, long-lived animals that take years to reach sexual maturity. The Florida Turtle Conservation Trust (FTCT) believes that harvest of freshwater turtles is unsustainable, particularly when you take into consideration the many other threats, both natural and anthropogenic. In response to the concern outlined above, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff studied the problem and met with stakeholder groups. Meanwhile, efforts by turtle biologists and conservationists to ban the harvest of freshwater turtles in Florida strengthened. A group of biologists met with the Office of the Governor and a letter from 32 leading turtle scientists was presented to Governor Crist urging him to act on behalf of Florida's wild turtles. On 20 November 2009, Governor Crist sent a letter to FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto urging …"the commission move toward a complete ban on the harvesting of our wild turtles." On 13 March 2009, FWC announced that staff will present a draft rule at the Commission meeting in Tallahassee on 15 April 2009. The press release stated, "Staff is proposing a draft rule that represents the most comprehensive set of protections and conservation measures for freshwater turtles in the United States…. Few places in North America have the rich diversity of turtles that we have here in Florida, and this proposed rule ensures their long-term survival. The draft rule would ban the commercial take or sale of wild freshwater turtles. The draft rule also would prohibit taking turtles from the wild that are listed on Florida's imperiled species list, as well as species that look similar to the imperiled species, which include common snapping turtles and cooters. Individuals would be allowed to take one freshwater turtle per day per person from the wild for noncommercial use." The FTCT fully supports the draft rule and commends the FWC for their thorough review of this conservation threat and positive response toward conserving Florida's freshwater turtles. We urge Florida conservation NGOs and interested parties to support the following actions. 1) Letters need to be sent to FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto expressing support of the draft rule and urging the Commission to ban the harvest of Florida's freshwater turtles. Please copy FWC Executive Director Ken Haddad. Contact info for FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto: Mr. Rodney Barreto, Chairman Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 S. Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 commissioners@MyFWC.com Contact info for FWC Executive Director Ken Haddad: Ken Haddad, Executive Director Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 S. Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 ken.haddad@MyFWC.com 2) Please forward this information to other conservation-minded individuals and encourage them to write letters to the above parties. Resource information: Link to related FTCT info: http://www.ftct.org/news_and_announcements.html Link to related FWC info: http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/09/statewide/News_09_X_TurtleHvstRuleProp1.htm For additional information, please contact: George L. Heinrich, Founding President, FTCT Director, Florida Riverine Turtles Conservation Program george@heinrichecologicalservices.com Tim Walsh, President, FTCT