|
Diamondback terrapin are the only estuarine turtles in the United States. Once
numerous populations have been depleted due to overfishing, driven in part by the
popularity of turtle soup.
Terrapin are no longer harvested commercially in Georgia, but current threats
include habitat loss, pollution, predation, road kills and incidental drowning in
crab traps. This species is not federally protected, but it is listed as a “species of
Concern” in Georgia. Terrapin can live to be almost 50 years old.
(1888 illustration from Harpers Weekly)
Diamondback Terrapin Project
 
In order to address the concerns about terrapin drowning when they enter
crab traps, MAREX is testing the effectiveness and feasibility of using excluder
devices to keep terrapin out of traps.
 
MAREX has recently completed our third year of data collection in our Terrapin Excluders In Crab Pots Study. View the “Three year report (2003, 2004, 2007)”
 
Recreational Crabber Collaborative Study
Preliminary studies have shown that recreational crabbers using commercial style pots may have an even greater chance of encountering terrapin than commercial crabbers due to the location of their traps. We're working with the Department of Natural Resources to promote a collaborative study with recreational crabbers. Join us! If you have even a few crab pots, help us test the performance of an easy-to-install excluder.
To receive your free excluders and logbook, call Lisa in Brunswick at 912-262-3382.
Terrapin Excluders in Commercial
Crab Pots
Commercial crabber, Tony, has volunteered to test the three most promising excluder designs. Tony rarely encounters terrapin in
his crabbing territory, but he is working with MAREX staff to determine if crab catch is affected by the excluders. In order for terrapin excluders to be viable in the commercial fishery, they must not affect the number or the size of crabs caught.
Stay tuned for study results….
One of the devices used to exclude Diamondback Terrapin from crab traps
Diamondback Terrapin Installation Video available contact Robert Overman:
roverman@uga.edu
or download (mpeg4) now!
Evaluation of Diamondback Terrapin Excluders for use in Commercial
Crab
Traps in Georgia Waters
“Three year report (2003, 2004, 2007)”
Click here for Terrapin Study Poster
Back to Top
|
