Gov. Charlie Crist told Florida wildlife officials on Thursday that he wants to ban the harvesting of wild freshwater turtles, which are served as delicacies in Asia.
State wildlife officials established a temporary limit of 20 turtles a day for licensed hunters, but scientists said the limits weren't stringent enough. They contend turtle populations are endangered as tens of thousands are caught and shipped to Asia.
"China has hunted out all of their soft shell turtles, and now they are coming here to satisfy their hunger for turtle meat and products," said Matt Aresco, director of a private wildlife refuge in the Florida Panhandle. "Gov. Crist recognizes that we need to protect Florida's wild turtles, not ship them off for foreign soup pots."
Crist's letter Thursday to Rodney Barreto, the chairman of the Florida Wildlife and Fish Commission, would eliminate the practice. Crist also asked the commission for a quick decision.
Texas already bans turtle harvesting, prompting many commercial hunters to move into Florida.
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