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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???