Maryland's turtle finds safe waters; A ban on trapping the diamondback terrapin passes after advocates stick their necks out Baltimore Sun, April 11, 2007 - Though the bills still have to be signed into law this article looks at some of the faces behind the terrapin bills.

Our many thanks also go out to the bill's sponsors, the many delegates, senators and staff members that supported the bills; and the many individuals behind the scenes including those at the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland, Conservation International, Defenders of Wildlife, MARS Preservation Fund, Maryland Conservation Council, Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society and The Tortoise Reserve and you the public for signing the Terrapin Petition!

Provided that Governor O'Malley signs the bill into law, you are all responsible for permanently protecting Maryland's terrapins from commercial take!

 

 

Senate vote weakens bill banning turtle trapping Baltimore Sun, April 05, 2007 - Senators led by Senator Katherine Klaussmeier adopted an aquaculture amendment onto the terrapin bill that would not protect terrapins from commercial harvesting for aquaculture.

[Note: We are happy to report that a tighter amendment was adopted instead that allows aquaculture but not harvesting. It will also regulate aquaculture and should provide Natural Resources Police with the ability to monitor businesses and shipments as needed]

To hear the incredible testimony that was given in the Senate visit:

http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/listen.asp

select "Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Session # 1" and

scan ahead to the time period of 49:00:0 - 1:04:50.0 /2:08:36.4

 

 

 

China's Turtle Farms Threaten Rare Species, Experts Say National Geographic News, March 23, 2007 - A good summary of the article in the scientific journal "Conservation Biology" that details how turtle farming operations are placing wild turtle populations at risk in Asia.

 

 

The Biology Behind the Terrapin Ban - March 17, 2007 - Contains perhaps the most eloquently put quote yet,

"The presence of terrapins is a luxury, aesthetically and ecologically, that residents of the bay need to recognize and work to protect. In so doing, we will demonstrate to our neighbors near and far that we are progressive in our view of our unique ecosystem and willing to work to protect it from further degradation."

This editorial was written by Dr. Christorpher Rowe a turtle biologist at UMD center for Environmental Science in the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomon's.

 

 

Editor's Notebook: Terrapins The Capital Editorial Board, March 17, 2007 - The Editors support legislative closure of the terrapin fishery based on the (20 fold) increase in terrapin harvests resulting from the DNR Fisheries regulations of last year.

 

 

 

In these two articles we learn that the administration is in favor of temporarily protecting terrapin, however, the science and the data collected by the DNR indicates that any level of harvesting is unsustainble: "Gov. Martin O'Malley had said his administration would impose a moratorium on the trapping of terrapin, favoring that approach over legislation. Nonetheless, spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said today that the governor would sign the bill."

 

 

Letters to the Editor: High time to ban harvest of turtles Baltimore Sun, Mar 2, 2007 - A thank you to Roy Dyson and a condemnation of the politics occuring outside of the legislative proceedings.

 

 

Editorial: Terrapin Turmoil: To Save a Maryland Symbol, Legislature Comes Out of Its Shell Bay Weekly, March 1, 2007 - Editors call upon the legislators to fix this ongoing problem.

 

 

Terrapin harvest debate continues The Capital March 1, 2007 - Summary of the House bill's hearing with a great photo of Delegate Clagett, Emily the terrapin and Chris Farrow a remarkable 11 year old who testified in the House after creating his own petition and obtaining 275 signatures after reading the 2/24 Capital article.

 

 

There’s Likely to Be a Law; Terrapin harvesting ban on the cusp of passing Bay Weekly March 1, 2007 - A summary of all the issues that support the need for the two terrapin bills.

 

 

Saving our Terrapins is essential to Maryland, by Senator Roy Dyson, Southern Maryland News, Feb 24, 2007 - We thank Senator Dyson, SB532's sponsor, for this is wonderfully accessible survey of the issues that support the need for these bills. He also provides the clear reasons as to why a closure is necessary as opposed to a moratorium, which has an expiration date.

 

 

Ban on catching terrapins likely; Despite public statements against bill, DNR quietly working on moratorium The Capital, Feb 24, 2007 - A look at the recent and hidden backroom politics surrounding the protection of terrapins occuring outside of the legislature.

 

 

Md. Looking At Moratorium On Terrapin Catch - WJZ TV, Feb 24, 2006 - Watch the video to see great clips from the exciting hearing including Jack Cover of NAIB, Senator Dyson and Senator Carter Conway. Note: The dialogue from these clips is not included in the displayed text so make sure to watch.

 

 

Shielding State's diamondbacks - O'Malley to halt terrapin trapping as soup market threatens numbers Baltimore Sun, Feb 23, 2006 - Governor O'Malley is supportive of protecting Maryland's terrapins but he does not wish to permanently protect them by enacting a moratorium instead of a closure, and commented that this would allow for future commercial harvests, which all science says is unsustainable (a moratorium, or temporary ban, will have an expiration date and is historically susceptible to politics, particularly during changes in administration).

 

 

Terrapin protection splits lawmakers, regulators; Hearing held in Annapolis on proposal to ban diamondback terrapin trapping AP Press, Baltimore Sun, Feb 23, 2006 - Great quotes from the hearing and a short survey of the biological and habitat problems that threaten Maryland's terrapin populations.

 

 

Terrapin protection meetings planned The Capital, Feb 18, 2007 - Fisheries is holding a public scoping meeting to consider new terrapin harvest regulations for the 2007 season on the same night as the House's hearing for the permanent commercial terrapin fishery closure bill.

 

 

Time for State to get serious about its terrapins The Capital Editorial Board, Feb 11, 2007 - The editors ask for lawmakers to enact closure legislation since Fisheries' 2006 harvest regulations dramatically increased the harvest.

Note: At the July 17, 2006 public comment hearing Fisheries staff stated the regulations would 'all but end the commercial harvest' (or reduce it by 50-80%). Attendees provided evidence of the fishery's un sustainability in testimony and in written comments.

 

 

Diamondbacks in the rough Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Feb 09, 2007 - Editors of the Baltimore Sun call for the state to end the commercial harvest and point out that the increasing loss of habitat supports this need even more.

 

 

Lawmakers want ban on terrapin trapping, WJZ Baltimore News Television, Feb 8, 2006

 

 

Terrapin harvest jumps despite new restrictions, Lawmakers consider total ban The Capital Feb 08 2007 Coverage of the public meeting DNR Fisheries held to discuss the results of the 2006 harvest, which increased dramatically from previous years.

 

 

Terrapins discussed on Maryland Mornings, WYPR Feb 8/9 2007 - Tom Pelton, reporter for the Baltimore Sun. Note: biologists have shown terrapin harvests are unsustainable and Fisheries did not discuss the many published articles on terrapins at this public meeting. Instead they discussed articles on other animals such as sturgeons that have similar life histories that reduce their ability to recovery after exploitation, much like terrapins.

 

 

Watermen oppose terrapin-trapping ban Baltimore Sun, Feb 08 2007 - A review of the DNR's public meeting held to discuss the 2006 harvest where 10,278 terrapins were caught by 14 commercial fishermen during the three month season.

 

 

Terrapin catch raises alarms Baltimore Sun, Feb 07 2007 - State considers ban on diamondback trapping as harvest leaps twenty fold. This story has made its way into nearly 20 publications, including the Annapolis Capital, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, United Press International and even the India Times.

 

Lawmakers want ban on terrapin trapping, WJZ Baltimore News Television, Feb 7, 2006

 

State must do more to safeguard turtles Baltimore Sun, Dec 14 2006 - Two Letters to the Editor in support of protecting terrapins.

 

 

All but ageless, turtles face their biggest threat: humans New York Times, Dec 12 2006 &

Though sturdy survivors, turtles prove to be ill equipped for human threat New York Times, Dec 12 2006 - Includes discussion of Maryland's commercial harvesting of it's State reptile and mascot, also in accompanying web video: Extinction Looming?

 

 

With no protection from wholesale slaughter, the turtle has much to fear Baltimore Sun, Dec 10 2006

Fisheries' insistence on regulating and managing terrapins as a "fish" is causing important secondary issues that range from exploitation and management that will lead to population crashes, to the inhumane way the live turtles are treated.

 

 

Farm points way out of turtle trap Baltimore Sun, Nov 11 2006 - Discusses one exporter's purchase of 5,000 Maryland terrapins last summer and sale of 2,500 of them directly to China. For a frame of reference, the intensive USGS terrapin population study of the Smith Island, MD area encountered ~7,000 individuals during their three-year long study.

 

Out of the pots and into the fire Bay Journal, Sept 2006 - This article discusses the current situation thoroughly and very readably.

 

What the turtle fears Baltimore Sun, July 17 2006

 

Environmentalists push terrapin harvest ban The Capital, July 11 2006

 

Fear for the turtle Baltimore Sun, July 09 2006

 

DNR acts to protect state reptile Baltimore Sun, Jun 21 2006

 

Terrapins die in fyke nets near Eastern Neck Refuge The Star Democrat, May 08 2006

 

House bill aims to ban harvesting of terrapin Baltimore Sun, Mar 21 2006

 

Eighth graders urge Assembly to protect terrapin Capital News Service, Mar 14 2006

 

Free state's turtles from commercial sale Baltimore Sun, Feb 01 2006

 

Free the turtle Baltimore Sun, Jan 29 2006

 

Fears for the turtle prompt clandestine rescue mission Washington Post, Jan 22 2006 and circulated nationally: "Between 2000 and 2004, according to the state, Maryland's diamondback terrapin harvest surged from zero to 2,800 pounds. But seafood dealers in the state report buying 10,000 pounds of terrapins in 2004, a discrepancy the state can't readily explain. Virginia bans commercial terrapin fishing, but in Maryland there's a nine-month open season, with no limit."

 

Maryland's real terrapins not faring so well Washington Post, Aug 11 2005

 

On the concerns of enforceability:

A captain who sometimes goes overboard Baltimore Sun, Aug 06 2006

3 watermen fined for illegal fishing Baltimore Sun, May 26 2006