SSB 1174 turtle bill

[Fishbonker]

Study bill that would change the turtle harvest that was approved a year ago.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SSB1174&ga=87

Changes include lengthening the season from June 15 through May 15th instead of July 15the to May 15th for both commercial and noncommercial take. Also changes the amount of take from 5/day with possession of 20 (snappers) to 3500/year (all turtles). I think this bill increases the seasons by a month and roughly doubles he number of turtles that can be harvested (5/day times 300ish days is 1500 turtles and 3500/season divided by 335 days is just over 10/day). This is based only on my reading of the bill and the current administrative code referenced in the bill and found here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/rule/02-15-2017.571.86.1.pdf

I know the DNR fought very hard for the current turtle rules. If you follow the link to the bill take a moment to look at the lobbyist declarations.

 

[mplane72]

I know the DNR fought very hard for the current turtle rules. If you follow the link to the bill take a moment to look at the lobbyist declarations.

LOL

 

[Hardwood11]

"I like turtles"

If I knew how to post that link from Youtube...its a classic.

 

[Fishbonker]

A good read on the current rules that this bill would rescind.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/aco/arc/2951C.pdf

 

[Fishbonker]

"I like turtles"

If I knew how to post that link from Youtube...its a classic.

It took awhile to get it imbedded for a technologically challenged individual like me. Some of the follow up vids are pretty funny too.

 

[Hardwood11]

I laughed really hard when I saw that!!

 

[Fishbonker]

This bill passed out of Committee today and renumbered to SF 460. The bill was introduced and put on the debate calendar. Link to the new bill with changes:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF460&ga=87

The changes include going back to the original season dates, July 15th to May 15th and takes/possession that are still much higher than the current law. Take for snappers from 4/day to 10/day and possession going from 20 to 30. Soft shells go from 1/day to 10/day and possession from 5 to 30. Painted turtles go from take of 1/day to 5/day and possession from 5 to 15.

There is language in the new version that would not allow any new commercial turtle harvester licenses and no renewal if the license wasn't granted prior to January 1st 2015.

The "preamble" to the current law that I linked above giving the biological reasons to limit the harvest would still be stricken.

There was obviously some bargaining going on in the Committee. I still don't think the take/possession limits are sustainable.