Louisiana lawmakers seek OK on alligator items in California

MONROE, La. (AP) - Several Louisiana lawmakers have asked their California counterparts to remove an impending ban on alligator products.

The News-Star reported Thursday that several state senators and representatives wrote a letter to the California Assembly about the ban, saying it threatens Louisiana’s economy and approach to wildlife conservation. The ban is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

Once endangered, there are now nearly 2 million wild alligators and about 300,000 farmed alligators. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says about 28,000 wild alligators and 280,000 farmed alligators are harvested annually.

The raw meat and hide values from those harvests are estimated at about $11 million and $46 million, respectively. Those numbers don’t reflect the values of manufactured alligator products or associated jobs and tourism.

___

Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com