Ban on commercial harvest of freshwater turtles goes into effect next week

Commercial harvesting of turtles will be illegal in Florida, starting July 20. Reports of large turtle harvests from a lake in Central Florida approximately 18 months ago led the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to pass the most restrictive turtle harvest rule in the nation. On July 20, commercial turtle harvesting will no longer be legal in Florida.

The FWC moved quickly to address the problem and pulled together various groups such as the turtle harvesters themselves, turtle farmers, environmentalists and turtle scientists.

FWC staff conducted workshops and consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners to determine whether recent levels of harvest of freshwater turtles could continue without harm to the species.

Increased demand for freshwater turtles in Asian and South American markets led to the conclusion that the pressure on the species would continue to increase. In addition, neighboring states began tightening their freshwater turtle rules, leading more harvesters to Florida's fresh waters.

As a result, the FWC in September passed an interim rule with some restrictions on the harvest of turtles. In the ensuing months, staff continued meeting with interested parties to determine the best course of action. By February, the FWC approved a draft rule, and in June, the Commission passed the final rule that goes into effect July 20.

"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 selfsustaining to lessen their dependence on collection of turtles from the wild.

"I believe this industry should be moved to aquaculture. That's the logical place for it to be," said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the FWC. "This is the right thing to do."

The closed season for the take of softshell turtles, May 1 to July 31, will not change under the new rule. For more information on the new rule, go to MyFWC.com.

FWC announces blue crab trap area closure

The harvest of blue crabs from traps will not be allowed from July 20 through July 29 in Hernando through Wakulla counties' waters. This closure will give authorized groups the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from coastal and inland waters in this area.

All commercial and recreational blue crab traps within three nautical miles from shore and in the inland waters of Hernando through Wakulla counties must be removed during the 10-day closed period.

The harvest of blue crabs by other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps, will still be permitted during the 10-day closure. The closure also applies to recreational harvesters who use standard blue crab traps unless the traps are attached to private property.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has cited lost and abandoned blue crab traps to be a problem in the blue crab fishery, because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when they are not maintained. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters on the water.

Lost and abandoned traps cannot easily be distinguished from legal traps so they often remain in the water indefinitely. The 10-day closure will enable FWCauthorized groups to collect lost and abandoned blue crab traps that remain in the water during the closed period.

Other regional 10-day blue crab trap closures throughout Florida occur at certain times during the year.

More information regarding the FWC's trap retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations and how you can participate in cleanup events is available online at MyFWC.com/RULESANDREGS/ SaltwaterTraps_index. htm.

You also can contact FWC's trap retrieval coordinator Kyle Miller at 850-487-0554.

Bird watchers and wildlife viewers boost Florida's economy

Bird watchers and wildlife viewers spend $3.1 billion per year in Florida. They support roughly 35,000 jobs.

Mark Kiser, who heads up the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) 489-site Great Florida Birding Trail, said more people travel to Florida to see wildlife than any other state.

"And the number is increasing," he said. "Half the 800 bird species in this country occur in Florida, at least sometime during the year. In fact, birders have spotted 504 bird species in Florida."

Birds from all over the globe turn up in Florida, and birders flock here for a once-in-alifetime chance to see one of the 135 exotic species they could never hope to see without traveling to faraway countries. Kiser said the economic boost from birding is enough to encourage communities to conserve their wild lands so the wildlife viewers will keep coming.

"You can help birds and give the economy a shot in the arm by encouraging bird watchers," Kiser said. "Bird watchers spend money at restaurants, motels, convenience stores and lots of other businesses."

The FWC has teamed up with partners in the new Get Outdoors Florida! campaign, encouraging Floridians to lure their children away from their electronic toys and rediscover together the natural Florida that is such a big attraction for vacationers.

"A bird book, a pair of binoculars and a camera are all it takes to open up the fascinating world of birding and wildlife viewing," Kiser said.

A visit to MyFWC.com and clicking on "Quick Clicks" will yield information about where to go to get started.

Public health resource guide on harmful algal blooms now available

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Health recently released a new tool to assist local health officials when responding to harmful algal blooms in Florida.

The Resource Guide for Public Health Response to Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida addresses critical HAB issues that may affect the health of Florida's residents and visitors and recommends procedures to handle events and minimize their impacts.

In Florida, many species of harmful microscopic algae can affect fish and wildlife, and some can cause human illness. The guide is the first reference that compiles critical information related to these species as well as other harmful algal bloom issues in one easy-to-use source.

Along with suggested operating procedures, the guide includes background information on harmful algal blooms, descriptions of different potential scenarios and contact information for various bloom-related organizations.

In addition to being a go-to reference for health officials, the guide provides easy-to-read information for the public to learn about this topic.

Based on recommendations from the Public Health Technical Panel of Florida's Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, scientists and managers developed the guide to meet the critical need for this resource.

The guide is available at http://research.MyFWC.com/features/ view_article.asp?id=32552.

For more information on harmful algal blooms in Florida, visit http://research.MyFWC.com or http://www.myfloridaeh.com/ medicine/aquatic/index.html.