Transcript Document

Iowa’s Commercially Harvestable Turtle Species
Pets
Painted Turtle
Food
Spiny Softshell Turtle
Food
Common Snapping Turtle
Food
Smooth Softshell Turtle
Iowa’s Commercial Turtle Harvest Receives Attention

March 11, 2009 – The Center for Biological Diversity et al. petitioned the
State of Iowa requesting immediate repeal of commercial turtle harvest

April 2009 – The Fishing & Aquaculture Association submitted a rebuttal
paper

May 2009 – The DNR Natural Resources Commission voted to deny CBD
petition and instructed the DNR Fisheries Bureau to review status of
Iowa turtle populations.

Thereafter – The Iowa DNR formed Joint Committee on Turtle Harvest to
review turtle program from an unbiased scientific standpoint &
recommend regulations & program changes if necessary. A final report
termed “The White Paper” was drafted.
Longevity by species
Age (yrs.)
*Not well-studied
60
60
50
40
20
0
20
*
25
*
Age at maturity by species
Age (yrs.)
10
10
10
8
6
4
2
0
9
7
4
5
5
4
Male
Female
Species
Paint
Mean Clutch Size
12 eggs
(Late May-June)
Common
Snapper
30 eggs
Spiny
Softshell
18 eggs
Smooth
Softshell
18 eggs
(May 15-June)
(June 15-July)
(June 15-July)
Frequency
2-3 per
year
1 per
year
1 per
year
1 per
year
Average Nest
Predation Rate
80%
Predators include furbearers such as raccoon, skunk, fox,
mink, opossum, etc., and avian predators such as crows
and grackles. Domestic animals such as dogs and cats
also prey on turtle nests.
Habitat Loss
 Less than 5% of
Iowa’s wetland acres
remain from presettlement
 69% of Iowa’s
landscape was in
active row crop
production or urban
in 2007
 Channelization &
sedimentation of
rivers and streams
contribute as well
Has the construction of farm ponds helped turtle
populations rebound in the face of disappearing
wetlands, channelization, and sedimentation?
Iowa’s Wetland Loss
PRE-SETTLEMENT ACREAGE = 1.8 MILLION ACRES
Post-Settlement = 90,000 acres
Wetland
Farm Pond
Iowa’s Farm Pond Stocking Program
Average = 828 acres per year
Program Existence = 40 years
TOTAL = 828 X 40 = 33,120 ACRES*
*Not all of this acreage was new pond construction
Number
Iowa Commercial Turtle Harvesters by Year
Maximum = 179 in 2012
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Turtle Harvest (lbs.) all Species by County
120
332
1,931
1,969
591
838
1153
336
1,238
1,545
108
4,296
1,916
771
480
1,491
1,369
150
921
988
904
9,552
390
361
674
4,649
275
659
421
1,462
1,624
972
122
1,165
1,504
563
305
3,827 1,729
1,844
1,919
3,185
1,638
1,038
720
2,135 1,713
30
922
1,457
186
1,217
547
3,224
4,649
935
141
1,274
3,244
965
551
8,685
281
1,715
2,026
653
2,615
4,362
21
1,598
569
24
4,857
3,899
1,968 2,318
1,612
3,563
91
2010
Turtle Harvest (lbs.) all Species by County
2,051
1,229
3,719
111
2,619
2,461
5,419
469
901
1,518
3,216
1,623
240
2,939 1,309
5,791
1,323
888
803
431
220
1,517
1,343
1,380
1,124
1,780
565
1,256
723
1,556
697
1,341
914
592
2,851
2,696
571
1,162 701
543
985
8,731
2,016
3,499
2,889
439
8,738 1,791
1,978
131
785
782
336
321
2,882
453
211
5,792
164
5,730
5,905
1,620
2,067
296
1,355
1,305
640
8,494
5,098 1,871
3,927
2,055
5,420
7
537
772
1,389
638
6,149
647
808
4,863
1,998
300
2,428
1,099
1,367
3,613 22,140 1,664
2,361
4,381
5,548
2013
Common Snapper Harvest
Maximum = 203,156 lbs. in 2007
Harvest (lbs.)
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Softshell Harvest
Harvest (lbs.)
Maximum = 46,696 lbs. in 2002
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Painted Turtle Harvest
Harvest (lbs.)
Maximum = 4,505 lbs. in 2004
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
May 4, 1999
“The Chinese Markets are a black hole for turtles. With turtles
gone from many parts of Southeast Asia, researchers say
dealers are now starting to look elsewhere. The tentacles of
that octopus have spread all the way to North America.“
-Dr. John Behler, Freshwater Tortoise & Turtle Specialists Group
“Indeed the export of turtles from the U.S. has soared. By
1995, the U.S. was shipping out more than 84,000 map
turtles, 23,000 snapping turtles, and 38,000 softshell turtles
each year—increases of fivefold to fortyfold since 1990.
-Craig Hoover, Program Officer for TRAFFIC North American Office
May 4, 1999
Biologists are becoming increasingly concerned that turtle
populations in the United States cannot sustain such harvests,
especially given the lack of regulation.
"Unless they're listed on the Endangered Species Act, there's no
Federal law protecting turtles. State laws are spotty.”
–Dr. Susan Lieberman, Chief of the Office of Scientific Authority for the USFWS in Washington.
X No commercial turtle harvest
X Limited waters
X Season, size limits, other rules
X- Ontario
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
XX
X X
Proposed Closed Season (January 1 - July 15)

Limits overall harvest via closure during portion of peak
capture period (summer)

Protects critical nesting period from May-July
•

Allows females to nest before they’re subject to
harvest
Prevents females from being harvested from roadways
•
Large, adult females can be removed from population

•

Large females produce the biggest and most
eggs (resulting in the most “fit” hatchlings)
This activity can skew sex ratios towards male
Limits harvest from overwintering colonies (JanuaryFebruary)
Average Monthly Turtle Harvest (2001-2012)
Harvest (lbs.)
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
Snapper
Softshells
10,000
0
Average Monthly Turtle Harvest (2007-2013)
Harvest (lbs.)
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Paints
Commercial Turtle Harvesters
Opinion Survey
Question 4. Favor a harvest season?


2002
56% No
42% Yes


2009
64% No
36% Yes
Harvest Season - Increases potential for new recruits
Questions???