Guest column - Chairman Rodney Barreto

Turtle management is in good hands

By Rodney Barreto
Chairman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

• Links to more freshwater turtle harvest information

We Floridians react with great passion when we hear of threats to our natural heritage. That's a good thing when the threat is real, but it can be destructive when misinformation guides us.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is aware of an increased demand for freshwater turtles. Obviously, increased demand will require tighter management, and last month, the Commission deliberated the issue, heard public comments and adopted additional restrictions on turtle harvest. The FWC is on top of it, but the first step has to be giving its scientists time to figure out what further rules are needed. It would be reckless to do otherwise.

Words and numbers have appeared in news media that paint a picture of an emergency that does not exist. The freshwater turtle population is not plunging into extinction. In fact, 90 percent of Florida's turtles that wind up in the food market or pet trade are from turtle farms - not from the wild. We read about thousands of pounds of turtles being shipped out of Florida to foreign markets every week, but those numbers are questionable.

Those who have lined up to demand an immediate halt to commercial turtle harvest and criticized the FWC for not making it happen have generated passionate emotional reaction, but there is no scientific evidence that such a drastic measure is in order. On Oct. 23, an additional restriction will go into effect, further restricting the harvest of wild freshwater turtles. This new rule is sufficient to protect turtle populations while we take time to figure out what additional rules are needed. We don't have to shut down the entire industry to get there.

For centuries, turtle harvest required no regulation. As conditions changed over time, regulations became necessary, and they needed revision when conditions changed again. That's how conservation works. It is a moving target.

The situation calls for disciplined and clear thinking using science. Those are the tools the FWC uses to manage all the state's fish and wildlife, and the agency has a distinguished record of managing even the most vulnerable members of Florida's wildlife communities such as bald eagles and crocodiles. It has earned its reputation for managing those resources with wisdom.

We welcome input and discussion, but spreading misinformation and exaggerating alarm are not helpful. We have a system that works very well, because its foundation is informed, objective people, armed with the best available science.

Let's address this issue calmly with our focus clearly fixed on the target - conservation. There would be consequences for aiming too high as well as aiming too low. People's livelihoods and living natural resources both are at stake.