Growing demand for skins stokes La. alligator industry

After a tough few years during the recession, consumer interest in luxury goods made from alligator skins is picking up, and the Louisiana market is experiencing an uptick. The Times-Picayune reports sales of alligator skins fell from $55 million in 2007 to $42 million in 2008 in the United States. But the 2010 harvest and the expected harvest from 2011 are showing strong signs the alligator industry is recovering. The outlook at the moment for the industry is very positive, says Noel Kinler, a program manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. “A lot will hinge on what happens in Europe,” Kinler says. “If current demand remains consistent or increases, you can expect a rise in prices.” The state’s gator farmers and hunters account for around 80% of the total production of American alligators, most of which are used for their skin, which is sent off to Europe and Asia where it is made into high-end fashion items. Most money made from alligators is from the sale of their skin, with alligator meat accounting for only a fraction of the market. Last year the value of the meat harvested from gators in the state was a little more than $2 million, while skin value came out to approximately $28 million, according to data from the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Read the full story here.