Chinese turtles infest fishponds; officials alarmed

By George Trillo

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 3 expressed alarm last week over proliferation of an invasive species of Chinese turtle that now threaten Central Luzon’s local fish population and other aquatic animals.

DENR Region 3 Executive Director Maximo Dichoso said his office has been receiving complaints from fishpond owners and operators about the turtle species preying on local fish species, particularly bangus and tilapia fingerlings.

Citing the complaints, Dichoso identified the problem as the growing population of the invasive Chinese softshell turtle, the scientific name of which is “pelodiscussinensis.”

These softshell turtles have reportedly invaded hundreds of fishponds in Pampanga, Bulacan, and nearby provinces in the region, prompting DENR authorities to create a task force to look into the animal’s distribution, feeding habits, and reproductive characteristics.

“The Chinese softshell turtle has been classified as an invasive alien species (IAS) introduced in the country in the 90s,” Dichoso said.

The DENR official also warned the public against propagating or raising the animal as a pet.

Today, the reptile is considered a threat to local biodiversity and a pest in the multi-million fish industry of Pampanga, Bulacan and Bataan, said Dichoso.

Fishermen and fishpond owners from the towns of Arayat, Candaba, San Luis, Minalin, Macabebe and Apalit in Pampanga likened the turtle menace to the “golden kuhol” that wreaked havoc in rice farms during the 80s, reported Arthur Salazar, deputy DENR director for protected areas, wildlife and coastal zone management service (PAWCZMS).

A long history of the turtle being used as food in most Asian countries where it was introduced made it difficult to determine the extent of the reptile’s native range, although it is known to inhabit brackish water, rivers, lakes, ponds, canals and creeks with slow currents.

The Chinese softshell turtle is carnivorous and aggressive, preferring to forage at night to feed on fish, crustaceans, mollusks and insects.

As this developed, the DENR ordered a team of biologists and conservation experts to conduct a six-month study to determine the impact of the softshell turtle on the environment and the local fishing industry of the affected provinces, and to identify wildlife management interventions from the DENR.

“We want to determine the rate of reproduction of this turtle species and come up with a regional policy on the allowable quota for its collection either for food or export,” Dichoso explained, noting that some private individuals have expressed willingness to “harvest” the turtles for export.

He said strong market demand for turtle meat in China and other Asian countries will open a highly lucrative and viable business opportunity among wildlife collectors in the affected provinces.

But while the reptile poses a threat to local biodiversity, there is also a need to regulate its collection and trade to avoid unnecessary competition among individuals issued with Wildlife Special Use Permit, and to ensure a sustainable turtle population without affecting the local fish industry, he added.

In Pampanga alone, three individuals have been issued permits to collect a combined 36,820 heads of live turtles this year, or about 30,700 kilos of turtle meat. Last year, 349,170 heads of live turtles, or 236,250 kilos of turtle meat were also harvested.

He said the DENR welcomes information that would shed light on the range and behavior of the reptile and urged the public to contact the nearest DENR office if there are sightings of the animal or if nesting sites are found.