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Florida Turtle Harvesting
11/19/08 - 03:58 PM
Associated Press
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click for larger image Tallahassee, Fla:

The huge demand for Florida’s freshwater turtles in Asia is sparking a heated debate over limits on harvesting and now state regulators are ready to hear your opinion on the issue.

Hunters have been trapping tens of thousands of Florida turtles for export. That has prompted the state to set restrictions on harvesting, but some wildlife biologists argue the limits don’t go far enough.

Biologist Matt Aresco says the state is allowing fishermen to take too many turtles like the Florida softshell and the species cannot sustain itself.

He says oftentimes the turtles are harvested with mile-long trot lines that include about 1,000 baited hooks.

Aresco says this picture shows a softshell turtle taken last week from a lake in central Florida by a hook that went through the animal’s head but didn’t kill it. Turtles are kept alive as they’re shipped to Asian markets.

Texas has taken action to prohibit turtle harvesting and that has prompted a lot of commercial hunters to head to Florida.

Last month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission set a temporary limit of 20 softshell turtles per day for commercially licensed hunters. Individuals can take five per day.

Aresco is leading a group of scientists pushing for a ban on commercial hunting of wild turtles in Florida and a limit of one per person per day.

A spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says there is no threat to Florida’s freshwater turtle population right now.

Pat Behnke says the commission is closely studying the issue and is moving as fast as it can to come up with the best possible management plan for freshwater turtles.

The commission will take public comments on a long-term plan on Thursday in Tampa.

She says the commission is expected to approve a final plan next June.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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