Spring Break
Ohio turtles in danger of over-harvesting as Asia requests more meat
Kelly Ament
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Community
When the students on Miami University's campus go to a dining hall to eat, none approach the server and say, "I'd like the turtle meat, please." Turtle meat simply isn't something most Ohio residents would ever think of eating.
According to Tierra Curry, conservation biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity, a non-profit conservation group, Asia's turtle population has drastically decreased due to over-harvesting caused by the popularity of turtle dishes and the lack of enforcement for turtle harvesting. She said Asia is increasingly looking to the United States to harvest and export turtles.
"I suspect that the resources here can sustain a significant amount of collecting pressure," said Jon Costanzo, adjunct associate professor of zoology.
Costanzo said this is not the case with Asian turtles, which are less plentiful and most likely have more specific habitat requirements. In Ohio, he said, there is a wildlife officer assigned to every county, and it is doubtful there is a comparable high level of enforcement in Asia.
In Ohio, hunting turtles does not require a separate license because turtles are blanketed under Ohio's fishing license, according to Kipp Brown, fisheries biologist at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Brown said 685,374 Ohio residents obtained a fishing license in 2007.
According to Brown, since turtle hunting falls under this license, it is very difficult to determine and keep track of any increases in turtle harvesting in the state.
Since turtles are very secretive, most living underwater or in wooded areas, the total population is "tough to figure out," Brown said. However, Brown said turtles are "extraordinarily common" in Ohio.
According to Brown, Ohio has approximately 11 species of turtles. Of the 11 species, only two are legally allowed to be captured for consumption-the snapping turtle and the soft-shelled turtle. If these two species are caught legally, they are allowed to be sold. The seller must keep records for five years, with the names of the buyers and whether the turtles were given away, bartered or sold.
According to Tierra Curry, conservation biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity, a non-profit conservation group, Asia's turtle population has drastically decreased due to over-harvesting caused by the popularity of turtle dishes and the lack of enforcement for turtle harvesting. She said Asia is increasingly looking to the United States to harvest and export turtles.
"I suspect that the resources here can sustain a significant amount of collecting pressure," said Jon Costanzo, adjunct associate professor of zoology.
Costanzo said this is not the case with Asian turtles, which are less plentiful and most likely have more specific habitat requirements. In Ohio, he said, there is a wildlife officer assigned to every county, and it is doubtful there is a comparable high level of enforcement in Asia.
In Ohio, hunting turtles does not require a separate license because turtles are blanketed under Ohio's fishing license, according to Kipp Brown, fisheries biologist at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Brown said 685,374 Ohio residents obtained a fishing license in 2007.
According to Brown, since turtle hunting falls under this license, it is very difficult to determine and keep track of any increases in turtle harvesting in the state.
Since turtles are very secretive, most living underwater or in wooded areas, the total population is "tough to figure out," Brown said. However, Brown said turtles are "extraordinarily common" in Ohio.
According to Brown, Ohio has approximately 11 species of turtles. Of the 11 species, only two are legally allowed to be captured for consumption-the snapping turtle and the soft-shelled turtle. If these two species are caught legally, they are allowed to be sold. The seller must keep records for five years, with the names of the buyers and whether the turtles were given away, bartered or sold.
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