New turtle protections go into effect

TALLAHASSEE - A ban on commercial harvesting of Florida's freshwater turtles takes effect today. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted last month to approve one of the nation's strongest measures to protect more than two dozen species.

The turtles are considered a delicacy in Asia, where thousands are shipped every year. Scientists feared that continued harvesting could destroy their populations.

Florida scientists were concerned the continued harvest of turtles at such a heavy rate would threaten their survival.

"These animals provide a very important role in Florida's ecosystem. They are an in-between species, so they are both predator and prey for a lot of very important animals we have here," said Jenoh Gonzales, a biologist at the Florida Aquarium.

The new rule bans the commercial harvest and sale of freshwater turtles in Florida. It also prohibits the collection of turtle eggs. The new rule allows a person to take one turtle a day from the wild for most species.

Critics say the ban goes too far and gives turtles too much protection, but a state spokesperson disagrees.

"I think that anytime you're protecting species in Florida, we have some of the most precious and unique and abundant species in Florida, and anytime you're taking measures to conserve them, you're not going too far," said said Pat Behnke, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Behnke says the state's licensed turtle farms will be allowed to collect a limited number of some wild species to help them become self sustaining.