[Chat] Fwd: Help save the Terrapin!

Wed Mar 1 20:19:53 EST 2006

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:  We desperately need your help!
Date:  Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:47:28 -0500
From:  Edward "Chip" Wilson <edwardpwilson at hotmail.com>
T  

Hopefully, you have seen some of the recent newspaper articles about 
the Maryland Diamondback Terrapins being harvested and sent out of state 
and out of the country to serve as cheap ingredients in soup bowls around 
the country.

Perhaps you didn't realize how slowly these species populate and grow, 
and how desperately low our remaining population here in Maryland is.

Incredibly, in spite of being the state reptile and University of 
Maryland mascot, nothing is being done to stop their harvest here in 
Maryland, and they can be taken in unlimited numbers nine months of the 
year. Amazingly the harvest is allowed to target the pregnant females 
who are dredged up in when helpless in winter, from the bottom of the 
bay and rivers, by mechanized drag harvesters. The females are 4 times 
larger than the males and bring as much as $3.50 at wholesale.

The population has already crashed once this century and had only 
recently been on the mend. As soon as we have enough to make them a 
target, we go back full speed to wiping them out again. The Asian 
markets know we have them now, and harvesting pressures are sending the 
tiny population back into oblivion at a critical rate! The DNR does not 
even require reporting on their taking.

I am a Director and Trustee member of the Terrapin Institute in 
Maryland. After many years of effort, we have a House bill, HB 980 
introduced in the Maryland House of delegates to ban the harvesting of 
these creatures until such time as we can at least determine their 
numbers and set sustainable harvest rates. The unregulated and 
unlimited harvest of our dwindling population, including pregnant females, MUST 
STOP.

The Environmental Matters Committee of the Maryland House of delegates 
is having a hearing on this measure this coming Wednesday March 8th at 
1 PM.

I am writing to ask that a member of your organization appear and 
support this measure. I can provide all of the background information 
necessary for your testimony to be accurate and valuable.

Please contact me so that we can arrange to work hand in hand on this 
important and critical goal.

I also enclose a copy of a letter I sent to some of the legislators, 
that provides more information on this cause.

Our website is :

www.savetheterrapin.org <http://www.savetheterrapin.org> and 
www.terrapininstitute.org <http://www.terrapininstitute.org>

Thank you,

Edward "Chip" Wilson
301-261-1919

*HELP SAVE THE MARYLAND DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN!*

I am a supporter of Margaret Whilden and the Terrapin Institute of 
Shadyside Maryland, and a financial supporter of that organization. I 
am an avid nature lover, Maryland patriot and lifelong resident.

I am writing today, because we very much need your help. Without it, 
there has been no progress in a decade, and this topic needs YOUR 
capable leadership skills. There is little time left. We need your help 
to save the Maryland Diamondback Terrapin!

Keeping the dwindling Maryland Diamondback Terrapins out of stock pots 
has recently received widespread reporting in local press as well as AP 
National coverage. perhaps you saw the articles about three tagged 
Maryland Diamondback Terrapins winding up for sale in a seafood market 
in New York.

See AP story from Washington Times:

http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20060122-105108-2033r.htm

See Washington Post article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101439.html

See Chicago Tribune story:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601250128jan25,1,1527963.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Albany Times Union:

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=435686&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=1/3/2006 

Link for the Maryland Diamondback Terrapin Institute website:

http://www.terrapininstitute.org/

Sadly, our Maryland Diamondback Terrapins have been discovered by 
foreigners, and our tiny stock of Maryland Diamondback Terrapins are 
being taken in large numbers, sadly, because the Asians believe that 
eating our Maryland Diamondback Terrapins promotes longevity. While it 
likely won't make the Asians live any longer, it certainly is fast 
shortening the lives of our unprotected Maryland Diamondback Terrapin 
stocks, and may soon wipe it out completely before we even know it was 
happening!

In addition to the stories cited above, there were many many more 
printed in newspapers across the country. How bad does this make us 
look, that our tagged research animals have *zero* protection, and our 
state government allows them to be removed wholesale without protection 
and sold throughout the country and overseas. There are more stories 
being written now, as I write you.

Incredibly, there is *NO* reporting requirements for the harvests, 
breeding and pregnant females are taken almost exclusively because they 
are larger and heavier, there is no definitive understanding of what 
population of Terrapins may now remain, no known level of sustainable 
harvest, no limit on numbers or taking of this beautiful and 
beleaguered species, and zero effective protections for them.

The Terrapin Institute studies of the Chesapeake Bay Maryland 
Diamondback Terrapin populations and takings, indicate a critical 
pressure on the Terrapin population. In some of their recent market 
purchases from harvesters, as many as 20% of the terrapins purchased 
were previously tagged by Ms. Whilden and the Terrapin Institute 
volunteers!!! Given that they have tagged only 3,000 animals, this 
indicates a precarious and tine remaining population of Terrapins 
already!!!! 

The Baltimore Sun is working on a story now, and Chesapeake Bay 
magazine is also writing one right now. Many many more will follow as the 
animals wind up in soup markets around the country. There is a groundswell of 
support already in place to save this endearing and namesake reptile 
that only lives here in the Chesapeake Bay region. The evidence is 
clear that our little studied population of Maryland Diamondback Terrapins is 
under severe pressure and will have a population crash (like so may 
other commercial Chesapeake Bay denizens before them) if we do not move 
decisively now!

The press is all pro Maryland Diamondback Terrapin, and anyone who 
supports this measure is seen in a very positive Maryland patriotic and 
environmental supporter. There is NO significant opposition of any 
kind!

There should be ZERO opposition to a measure to establish a moratorium, 
or even a permanent ban on the taking of mature female Maryland 
Diamondback Terrapins. You may find it interesting to note that *ONLY* 
large, mature females are taken by the commercial fishery!  A ban would 
not be of any great economic consequence however, as there are fewer 
than ten total watermen harvesting these terrapins, and total annual 
income is estimated in total, to be a paltry $30,000 -$50,000 per year 
for all harvesters combined!!!! Can we afford to lose our State 
namesake and such a precious natural resource and asset for that measly sum of 
money?!

The Terrapin Institute and their financial supporters are prepared to 
use private funds to buy out the commercial fishery, and strike an 
agreement to pay the current harvesters and wholesalers, in return for 
their agreement to the moratorium and support of the harvesting ban. 
This would bring Maryland into line with the bans already in place in 
the State of Virginia, and ensure the survival of the Maryland 
Diamondback Terrapin, at least until a study can be made as to the 
numbers of Maryland Diamondback Terrapins remaining and safe 
maintainable harvests!

But the public sentiment is vastly in favor of a ban, and few want to 
see this Maryland namesake in the stew pot!

Governor Glendening was supportive, but lacked the commitment or 
leadership skills to affect the necessary changes. In 2001, by 
Executive Order, Governor Glendening convened a task force to advise the 
management authority on the conservation of the diamondback 
terrapin.  The executive order specified the diversity of the task 
force to include a teacher, a student, a waterman, an animal welfare 
specialist, a scientist, a habitat specialist, a Senator, and a 
Delegate.  Never before had such a diverse group of people sat down 
together to discuss a commercial fishery resource.  The new 
participants were deliberate and thorough, investigating historical records and 
challenging modern data.        

The Diamondback Terrapin Task Force identified the unregulated 
commercial harvest of the Diamondback Terrapin as the primary detriment 
to preserving and restoring abundant populations of this species.  _The 
Task Force therefore concluded that until the science could be 
developed to substantiate a sustainable commercial harvest__, a moratorium should 
be placed on the harvest_.

Since that time, no moratoriums have passed, and no significant or 
effective conservation measures have been taken or passed. The Terrapin 
population has plummeted. The taking of our Terrapins has increased 
more than 400%, and shows signs of being on a permanent increase! We have 
run out of time. We must act NOW!

Supporting these needed conservation measures would produce a landslide 
of positive publicity for you and your office if you were to join us 
in this movement. Our organization can guarantee positive press in the 
Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Capital newspapers, and other 
influential publish periodicals and magazines.

We would like to get something passed by the current legislature.

This measure is also seen as fiscally responsible. Whereas rebuilding a 
dozen nesting sites and beaches cost millions of dollars, the 
protection we envision will accomplish MUCH more, and at a ZERO cost to the State 
of Maryland. The buy out of the fishery will be completely privately 
funded.

Given the broad public support, the lack of any opponents to such a 
measure, the positive press that will surely follow, and the 
satisfaction of permanently saving the MARYLAND DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN in 
your resume, we would ask that you join us this season and help us pass 
this popular and needed legislation.

We would like to have it in place to announce on Maryland Terrapin Day 
in February.

This measure and program needs you most urgent and immediate 
participation and input! Please contact me at 410-269-9999, or the 
Terrapin Institute at 410-370-9171.

We look forward to making this proposal a win win solution for everyone 
including the watermen, saving the badly beleaguered Maryland 
Diamondback Terrapin, and producing positive widespread local and 
national press coverage for your office in a VERY positive light!

Thank you,

*Edward Wilson*

*410-269-9999*

-- 

Laurel Imlay 
Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Staff 
Suite 101A 
7338 Baltimore Ave. 
College Park, MD 20740 
301-277-7111     301-277-6699fax 
laurel.imlay at sierraclub.org 
http://maryland.sierraclub.org/ 

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