workshop-terrestrial-turtles-us-turtle-exports-and-federal-trade-regulation

Diamondback terrapins are turtles that inhabit estuaries along the east and Gulf coasts of the United States. They range from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to northern Mexico. Terrapins were harvested in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s as a food source with a high demand leading to reductions in their populations across their range. In the 1930’s, terrapins became less desirable food sources and populations increased in areas with good habitat, but not much is known about populations in certain areas. What make terrapins so interesting are their markings, which are highly variable and prominent. Reasons for the variation include genetic diversity and some variations in their patterns could be linked to environmental conditions.

About Friends of County Parks

The Friends of the County Parks, established in 1988, is a group of concerned citizens joining together to promote financial and community support to the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department. They develop public awareness of recreation as an important part of day-to-day life.

Funds provided by The Friends of the County Parks are used as a supplement to the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department budget and does not replace allocated tax dollars. These additional funds helps maintain, improve, and enhance services provided by the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. The Friends of the County Parks enjoys a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit exemption status.

turtle Appendix II Species Map turtle G Action turtle Select years Appendix III

<p> Appendix I    
 Species threatened with extinction, no commercial trade, import & 
export permit required - 2/3 majority vote at a CITES CoP 
 (953 taxa & populations) 
 Appendix II 
 Currently not at risk of extinction, may be due to similarity of 
appearance, trade allowed with monitoring, export permit required - 
2/3 majority vote at a CITES CoP 
 (33,078 taxa & populations) 
 Appendix III 
 Unilateral listing, legally acquired/non-biological finding, export 
certificate only - no voting/unilateral listing by Parties 
 (171 taxa & populations) 
 2005 Wolfgang Wuster  
 Alligator Trading Company, Dade City, Florida 
Gary Stoltz 
* CITES Appendix III 
U.S. exports of certain live freshwater turtles: 
Selected years 
Species 
1990 
1995 
2000 
2005 
2008 
2009 
Common snapping 
turtle 
(Chelydra serpentina) 
3,122 
17,495 
129,499 
(2003) 
320,940 
497,107 
655,541 
Apalone spp. 
3,256 
38,611 
36,749 
(see below) 
Smooth softshell 
(A. mutica) 
Not 
available 
0 
3,618 
3,511 
839 
200 
Spiny softshell 
(A. spinifera) 
Not 
available 
702 
4,635 
36,704 
70,809 
46,117 
Florida softshell 
(A. ferox) 
Not 
available 
1,900* 
20,138 
87,216 
318,265 
158,704 
Diamondback 
terrapin 
(Malaclemys terrapin) 
5 
821 
(1996) 
846 
2,399 
3,581 
3,353 
Spotted turtle 
(Clemmys gutatta) 
Not 
available 
259 
617 
638 
943 
1,442 
* Likely under-reported due to non-specific record keeping and confusion with Trionyx.  
Species 
1990 
1995 
2000 
2005 
2008 
2009 
Eastern box turtle 
(Terrapene carolina)* 
3,056 
7,998 
11 
12 
2 
6 
Ornate box turtle 
(Terrapene ornata)* 
Not available 
14,889 
(2004) 
41 
0 
0 
0 
Chrysemys/Pseudemys 
spp. (no T. s. elegans) 
7,381 
154,934 
55,119 
66,511 
15,463 
25,112 
River cooter 
(C. [=Pseudemys] 
concinna) 
Not available 
6,110 
25,458 
61,271 
32,251 
29,557 
Florida red-bellied 
(C.[=Pseudemys] nelsoni) 
Not available 
16,648 
61,007 
80,668 
62,658 
112,819 
Painted turtle 
(C. picta) 
Not available 
3,750 
23,963 
16,907 
6,371 
14,380 
Common cooter 
(P. floridiana) 
Not available 
3,192 
5,446 
7,250 
5,685 
13,699 
U.S. exports of certain live freshwater turtles: 
Selected years 
* CITES Appendix II as of 1994 
U.S. exports of live Map and Alligator snapping turtles: Select years Species 
1990 
1995 
2000 
2005 
2007 
2009* 
Graptemys spp. 
6,994 
84,564 
181,199 
183,605 
------ 
36,101 
Barbour's map turtle 
(G. barbouri) 
----- 
----- 
232 
78 
0 
0 
Cagle's map turtle 
(G. caglei) 
----- 
----- 
79 
29 
0 
0 
Common map turtle 
(G. geographica) 
----- 
----- 
2,901 
2 
310 
0 
Pascagoula map turtle 
(G. gibbonsi) 
----- 
----- 
198 
0 
0 
0 
Black-nobbed map turtle 
(G. nigrinoda) 
----- 
----- 
1,194 
233 
0 
0 
Ouachita map turtle 
(G. ouachitensis) 
----- 
----- 
0 
150 
315 
0 
False map turtle 
(G. pseudogeographica) 
(inc. kohnii) 
----- 
----- 
19,970 
(201,169) 
97,073 
(280,678) 
219,761 
104,125 
(140,226) 
Alabama map turtle 
(G. pulchra) 
----- 
----- 
155 
5 
0 
0 
Texas map turtle 
(G. versa) 
----- 
----- 
76 
660 
0 
0 
Alligator snapping turtle 
(Macrochelys  temminckii) 
1,016 
5,792 
25,780 
40,869 
35,260 
40,839 
* Pending further analysis 
* Preliminary data 
CITES CoP Action - Freshwater & Terrestrial Turtles 
Asian Species: 
1994; 1 species downlisted to 
Appendix II 
1997; 1 species to Appendix II 
2000; 9 species to Appendix II and 
Resolution on trade and 
conservation adopted 
2002; 23 species to Appendix II 
2004; 5 species to Appendix II 
2005; 17 species to Appendix III 
2007; IUCN trade study approved 
2009; IUCN trade study reviewed & 
forwarded for action items 
Total = Action on 56 species, 
1 Resolution, and 1 trade 
status review 
U.S. Species: 
1994; 3 species to Appendix II 
1997; no action 
2000; no action 
2002; no action 
2004; no action 
2006; 13 species to Appendix III 
2007; no action 
2010; no action 
Total = Action on 16 species, 
no Resolutions or trade 
status reviews 
IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group; CITES CoP15 
Farms registered and "cloned" export permits 
2006 
2007 
2008 
2009 
2010* 
TOTAL 
Registered 
farms 
29 
25 
24 
22 
17 
---- 
Renewals & 
new 
registrants 
29 new 
25 renewals/ 
0 new 
23 renewals/ 
1 new 
22 renewals/ 
0 new 
18 renewals/ 
1 new 
----- 
Export permits 
issued (clones) 
334 
353 
314 
253 
171 
1,425 
Registration & 
permit fees 
$50/5.00 
$50/5.00 
$50/5.00 
$50/5.00 
$50/5.00 
----- 
* anticipated 
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