American alligators Alligator mississippiensis have long been popular for their skins and meat. Alligators were hunted in Florida as early as the 1860s to provide leather belting for industry and boots for the military, and the first alligator farm was established as a commercial enterprise in 1891. However, in recent years alligator farming has received renewed interest as a growing aquaculture industry. This is especially so in Florida where 42 alligator farms are now licensed by the state. Alligator farming as a bona fide agriculture industry has several distinct advantages. It offers farmers the chance to produce high priced products yearround, for a national and international market that is less than 50 saturated. Alligator farms do not require large tracts of land or water, and farm operations do not have major adverse effects on the environment. In fact, alligator farming benefits wetland conservation. With the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission permit, alligator farmers may stock their farm with hatchlings collected from private wetlands. Payment for these hatchlings provides income to owners of wetland habitat that in the past would be of marginal agricultural use without drainage. Allowing the owner to earn income from selling hatchings provides direct economic incentive for maintaining wetlands.

Address: PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.
Website: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM035