New York Joins States Protecting Diamondback Terrapin

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York regulators have banned commercial harvest of diamondback terrapins, a turtle species that lives in the brackish waters of the lower Hudson River and Long Island.

Populations of the turtle dropped steeply in the early 20th century because of unregulated harvest for turtle soup. The species rebounded, but new declines led to closure of commercial harvest in all states in its range except for New York.

The final hunting season for diamondback terrapin will close at the end of April 2018.

It also will be illegal to collect them for the pet trade.

The state's action was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity, the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society and other turtle experts.