Fishbonker
Life Member
This bill requires the NRC to adopt rules to limit noncommercial and prohibit commercial harvest of turtles in any waters in Iowa.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=%24selectedGa.generalAssemblyID&ba=ssb3062
The DNR proposed limiting turtle harvest last year through the NRC system. It made it almost to the Governor before it hit the road block all DNR proposals hit. One of the Governor's aides has a, well, "thing" for the DNR. Many proposals never make it past this aides desk.
Having said that, the Legislature took it upon themselves to try and stop the rapidly declining turtle population in the State. Commercial turtle fishermen were shipping thousands of Iowa turtles to Asia, both alive and dead. This bill calls for the reduction in noncommercial harvest and stopping the commercial harvest until 2021 or until the DNR can present a biology based assessment of the turtle population in Iowa. With the under funding in the DNR I can't imagine they will have the funds to present this study until 2021.
I have talked with several people in the past year all who say turtles are disappearing in Iowa. The reproduction rate of turtles is very low and commercial fishing was far out pacing the species ability to replenish their numbers.
I understand that the ban on business may be seen by some as unnecessary government intrusion. The DNR tried to slow down harvest but were thwarted by the very government that is supposed to support wildlife.
I plan on writing to my Senator in hopes that this Study Bill moves through the process and becomes law.
But as always, read the bill and draw your own conclusions.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=%24selectedGa.generalAssemblyID&ba=ssb3062
The DNR proposed limiting turtle harvest last year through the NRC system. It made it almost to the Governor before it hit the road block all DNR proposals hit. One of the Governor's aides has a, well, "thing" for the DNR. Many proposals never make it past this aides desk.
Having said that, the Legislature took it upon themselves to try and stop the rapidly declining turtle population in the State. Commercial turtle fishermen were shipping thousands of Iowa turtles to Asia, both alive and dead. This bill calls for the reduction in noncommercial harvest and stopping the commercial harvest until 2021 or until the DNR can present a biology based assessment of the turtle population in Iowa. With the under funding in the DNR I can't imagine they will have the funds to present this study until 2021.
I have talked with several people in the past year all who say turtles are disappearing in Iowa. The reproduction rate of turtles is very low and commercial fishing was far out pacing the species ability to replenish their numbers.
I understand that the ban on business may be seen by some as unnecessary government intrusion. The DNR tried to slow down harvest but were thwarted by the very government that is supposed to support wildlife.
I plan on writing to my Senator in hopes that this Study Bill moves through the process and becomes law.
But as always, read the bill and draw your own conclusions.
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