Freshwater turtle harvest rule goes into effect Oct. 23

Freshwater turtle harvest rule goes into effect Oct. 23

Freshwater turtle harvest regulations

An additional rule restricting the harvest of freshwater turtles goes into effect on Oct. 23. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) passed the rule at the September Commission meeting.

This restriction limits the harvest of wild Florida freshwater turtles to five per day per person. Each fisherman with a commercial license will be allowed to harvest an additional 15 Florida softshell turtles per day, for a total of 20 turtles per day.

"Florida softshell turtles lay more eggs than any other freshwater turtle in North America, and this species of freshwater turtle has sustained much higher harvest levels for many years," said Bill Turner, an FWC amphibian and reptile specialist. "Over the next year we will be collecting information and working with our stakeholders to determine the best strategy for conservation of freshwater turtles in Florida."

This rule has been passed to protect freshwater turtle populations while the FWC develops a long-term comprehensive strategy for sustainable use of amphibian and reptile populations. Recent reports of unusually large freshwater turtle harvests coincide with reports that the demand for freshwater turtles as food and pets has increased.

The additional rule limits the number of turtles that may be taken from the wild, not from turtle farms or other aquaculture facilities. Farmed turtles represent more than 90 percent of the total freshwater turtles exported from Florida. No changes have been made to the number of turtles people may possess; the existing limits still apply. Furthermore, rules about selling or buying turtles have not changed.

"We expect to bring the strategy for freshwater turtles back to the Commission in one year," Turner said. "We listened to the public, experts and fishermen and will continue to do so during the whole process."

This additional restriction to the existing rules is an interim measure while the FWC works on a long-term strategy for conservation of these species.

FWC Turtle Harvest Regulations

• Licenses and permits are not required for taking turtles.
   
• Most freshwater turtles may be taken year-round manually or with baited hooks, bows, dip nets, traps (designed so freshwater fish caught can escape) or by spearing (from boats or shore only during daylight hours).
   
• Taking turtles with bucket traps, snares or shooting with firearms is prohibited.
   
• Using gasoline or other chemical or gaseous substances to drive wildlife from their retreats is prohibited.
   
• River cooters may not be taken from April 15 to July 31. Soft-shell turtles or their eggs may not be taken from the wild from May 1 to July 31.
   
• No one can possess more than 50 eggs taken from the wild, in the aggregate, of species of freshwater turtles native to Florida, except as authorized by permit from the FWC executive director.
   
• Purchasing or selling turtle eggs taken from the wild is prohibited.

Eggs of the following restricted turtle species are subject to the same possession limits that apply for those turtles.

Possession limits for turtles and eggs:

River cooters - two
Alligator snapping turtles - one
Loggerhead musk turtles - two
Box turtles - two
Barbour’s map turtles - two
Escambia River map turtles - two
Diamondback terrapins - two

• No one may buy, sell or possess for sale alligator snapping turtles, box turtles, Barbour’s map turtles, river cooters, loggerhead musk turtles, Escambia River map turtles, diamondback terrapins or parts thereof.
   
• Buying, selling, taking or possessing gopher tortoises, or parts thereof, is prohibited except by permit from the FWC executive director.

For additional information, please visit Rule 68A-25.002(6) of the Florida Administrative Code at https://www.flrules.org/.  You may also read other wildlife regulations by going to MyFWC.com/codebook/.  

Red-eared sliders in personal possession prior to July 1, 2007 may continue in the possession of the owner.

Red-eared sliders less than 4 inches carapace length may not be possessed after July 1, 2008 without a permit.

Red-eared sliders with distinctive aberrant color patterns, including albino or amelanistic specimens, may be possessed without a permit.

Nonnative species that are released into the wild are often undesirable because of their potential to transmit diseases, compete or interbreed with Florida's native wildlife. To minimize these problems, Florida Statute 379.231 prohibits the release of nonnative animals. Therefore, relocating nonnative animals into a wild situation is not an appropriate solution to disposing of unwanted pets.