wild terrapins

[mmwhilden]

mmwhilden

May 9, 2004 at 11:06 am #19587

I have re-registered with the new e-mail. THank you for the interesting dialogue regarding wild caught terrapins. The Chesapeake has become the last frontier for the terrapin and those who take them. The political culture is ripe for over-exploitation and sadly it will take another crash for anything to happen. Under current management even another crash may not result in a restriction on harvest, i.e. crash is a subjective term. One man’s crash is another man’s bounty. As species appear to dwindle or be impacted, this often signals a heyday for the research community. THe sounding of the alarm has certainly been a money maker for terrapin researchers in Maryland, but has done nothing for the species. Consider since 2000 in Maryland, over $630,000 has been allocated to terrapin researchers – $550,000 to a government agency and $80,000 to a Univeristy study. Neither effort has investigated the commercial harvest, nor do they intend to, as this would bite the hand that feeds them. Neither effort has produced information which could save this species. WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE ACADEMIC RESEARCH. We do not need research in order to approach our legislators about this matter. DO IT NOW, please, before it’s too late for your beloved terrapin.

[Richard M. Biondi]

Richard M. Biondi

May 9, 2004 at 2:12 pm #19588

I agree about the “heyday” for researchers. It is often a cart before the horse. An example: stop the illegal infiltration, then we can talk about “guest workers”. There is no end to the self-serving foolishness of politicians and their bureaucracies. As I argued in a previous mail, this is a strength—if one leans on them, they are so venal they can be influenced. Are there any herpetological societies in Maryland that might act as a spearhead? Who are the state legislators closest to the problem? They are always looking for issues to get themselves on TV. From that beginning, move on to the federal congressmen and senators. And beyond. I liked the idea of paying the fishermen a bounty on each turtle they release. Open to gouging, but cheaper than research and headstarting in the long run. This is a growing issue that should be developed.

[Marguerite Whilden]

Marguerite Whilden

May 9, 2004 at 9:05 pm #19589

Richard Thank you for your encouragement. What makes this issue so bizarre is that we have been to the mountain top, i.e. Governor’s Task Force, Congressional funding allocation, so-called summit of harvesters, experts and researchers, habitat protection, official Terrapin Day,, etc. and still we failed. We are back at the bottom of the heap, so to speak. All this “progress” has resulted in nothing. The terrapin became the “Charm of the Chesapeake”, the Face of Restoration, star of the University promotion campaign, but where is it now? What is so pathetic in all this is that researchers fail to realize that we are at critical mass with this species and soon they will have nothing to study. Please check out http://www.terrapininstitute.org and if you can stand it, please read the Gov Task Force Report on which two State legislators, a rep from the herp society, researchers, and others sat. Since this was issued nothing has been accomplished for the species – no one has complained. One voice cannot do it. Private citizens do not have the police power to accomplish conservation. My only hope is that a former Maryland governor (and current Comptroller) has agreed to be our honorary chairman and may bring about some change for Maryland’s icon and ancient mariner. I hope the Diamondback group will now lobby to have the species declared federally threatened. It is the most important work you can do at this point. Press on regardless. mw Marguerite WhildenTerrapin Institute http://www.terrapininstitute.orgP. O. Box 501Grasonville, Maryland 21638410 827 8055Field Station: 600 Discovery LaneGrasonville, MD 21638

[Author]

Posts