Md. Officials Aim To Halt Harvest Of Prized Terrapins
By Lisa Rein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2007; Page B01
Deep in the tidal marshes of the Chesapeake Bay, demand for a five-inch reptile is helping to narrow the U.S. trade deficit with China.
The diamondback terrapin is under siege from global turtle traders in East Asia, who are feeding South China's newfound appetite for expensive turtle soup. With markets in Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia depleted, China's booming economy and expatriates and immigrants in New York City are vacuuming up the terrapins of Maryland, one of just four states that allow commercial harvests.
The diamondback terrapin, Maryland's state reptile, is considered key to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The diamondback terrapin, Maryland's state reptile, is considered key to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. (By James M. Thresher -- The Washington Post)
Now, after five years of studies and a false start (GEE THANK THAT PAST GOVERNOR FOR THE CARE OF THE TERRIPANs) that further decimated the population, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and Maryland lawmakers are on course to stop commercial harvesting of the beloved state reptile.
"It's an international devouring of natural resources," O'Malley said in an interview. "History has unfortunately shown that we are equally capable of destroying the planet as we are of preserving it."
The Department of Natural Resources is expected next week to propose a moratorium on terrapin harvests that would take effect in May. If the terrapins make a comeback, harvests could be reinstated. Two bills pending in the General Assembly take a harder line, proposing to stop harvesting permanently.
"We're saying, 'Enough is enough,' " said Del. Virginia P. Clagett (D-Anne Arundel), who sponsored the House bill. "Closure is the thing we want. The Chinese palate is really in for turtles. We're just losing them."
Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-St. Mary's) has sponsored a companion measure.
As we have already blogged about this we welcome the Washington Post covering this story more in the media and on the blogs need to, too.
Every Freestater needs to be worried about this and start demanding that officials in Maryland and Federal City move to save the Terps.
Go Terps, Lets win the ACC tournament
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