FAAC Newsletter. August Alligator Resource Funds and Rockefeller Trust Funds equally support this contract.

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1 August 2007 FAAC Newsletter F U R A N D A L L I G A T O R A D V I S O R Y C O U N C I L C o u n c i l C o n t r a c t s a n d A g r e e m e n t s TABLE OF CONTENTS Retail Fur Promotion 2 Alligator Cook-Off 2 International Fur Promotion Washington D.C. State-wide Public Education General Education 5 Technical Representation Report CITES & California Fur and Alligator Advisory Council Goals 6 8 Alligator Resource Funds pay for the following contracts exclusively. TECHNICAL REPRESENTATION Ashley and Associates The overall objective of this project is to provide critical information and expert advice to the LDWF and to the FAAC relative to national and international issues that may affect Louisiana s alligator management program and alligator industry. ALLIGATOR MEAT CONTRACT Ashley and Associates The purpose of this contract is to conduct an alligator meat market analysis to assess pricing, competitors, impediments to importation, global markets and to develop recommendations to implement positive change to the alligator meat industry. The meat industry is a large part of the Louisiana alligator industry. Since the year 2000, farmed meat value has fluctuated between $2,967,665 and $3,997,377 annually. ALLIGATOR MEAT Seafood Promotion Board The objective of this promotion is to highlight alligator meat within the U.S. through advertising, festivals and alligator cook-offs. Alligator Resource Funds and Rockefeller Trust Funds equally support this contract. WASHINGTON D.C. EDUCA- TION Glenn R. Delaney The purpose of this contract is to provide assistance to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)/Fur and Alligator Advisory Council (FAAC) in dealing with federal legislation, laws (including treaties), and regulations impacting the management of the state s wildlife resources. Emphasis is placed on legislation, laws, and regulations affecting the management of fur and alligator populations. Alligator Resource Funds and the Education and Marketing Fund equally support this contract. GENERAL EDUCATION Quentin Morris The objective of the contract is to educate the general public including teachers and students about habitat and wildlife management in relation to the fur and alligator industries. Rockefeller Trust Funds pay for the following contracts exclusively. FUR PROMOTION Michael Consiglio The objective of the contract is to enhance existing markets and establish new markets worldwide for Louisiana furs. Markets will result in better prices paid to trappers and help reduce over population of furbearers which sometime causes habitat and property damage. FUR RETAIL PROMOTION Christine Maynard The purpose of this contract is to promote Louisiana fur products made from genuine Bayou nutria into Louisiana retail stores, and to promote fur sales and popularize fur products. The purpose/objective of this contract is to implement and successfully establish nutria coats and products into the market place.

2 Page 2 FAAC Newsletter The Council participated in numerous trunk shows. Some were in individuals' homes, others in boutiques such as Molli's in Lafayette. KATC provided coverage on two occasions. Fashion shows were also popular, and served to increase awareness of nutria's beauty and availability. An Alexandria television station featured one fashion show held in the Ducorneau Restaurant. We, did, however, encounter many problems making the marketing unweildy. We couldn t fill orders, due to delays, the doubling of prices, and the unavailibility of styles we were showing, etc. Many people wanted to "impulse" buy for an out of town trip coming up or for a specific imminent event, and they were put off by the delay. Of course the state cannot sell samples; they were only for show, in hopes of convincing retail stores to stock and sell nutria coats. Potential customers just didn t want to order and wait. The stores that tried to order from the suggested manufacturers found skyrocketing wholesale prices (some doubling) and had big question marks about quality, as some of the coats literally began to fall apart at the seams as customers handled them. New York manufacturers suggested that the most stable market for nutria is its use for lining for upper end rain coats. An Italian Consortium con- Coat modeled for trunk show tacted me through Economic Development. We met with a woman who was a translator for Fendi. Fendi wasn t interested, they said, because they tried to buy nutria a few years back and their requests for pelts was never filled due to a lack of supply. A continued awareness campaign may be in order. A cottage industry would be a real asset to our state, importing the tanned in China pelts and sewing coats, pillows and throws here, in Louisiana.. Christine Maynard Retail Fur Promotion Alligator Cook-Off The Louisiana Culinary Institute took home the winning trophy at the inaugural Louisiana Alligator Soiree on August 6, The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (LSPMB) presented the student competition in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to boost consumer and chef awareness of the incredibly lean and wonderfully delicious Louisiana alligator. The event was well covered by media. Farm Bureau ran a story on the event. Southwest Airlines in flight magazine will be running a story on the Alligator Cook-Off as well. A video release of the event will go to Cable Access Channels in September. Other promotions in the works: Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board has composed a NAPS article on Torey McFail with Commander s Palace, which will literally reach millions of readers. LSPMB is working with restaurants to run alligator specials during the month of September. Alligator dishes from Louisiana Culinary Institute

3 Page 3 International FUR Promotion Russia, which is the main garment market in the fur world has just started to open up and commence purchasing skins & garments which will stimulate the entire industry. Customs officers have been very tough, and there has been a great deal of difficulty getting through the Russian borders. The Russians do everything that they can to avoid paying the duties (64%), which tend to be very costly. Greek and Turkish producers have confirmed that August has begun to move and the Russian s are beginning to buy in both markets. The price of furs is generally strong at the present, especially mink, which has been up at record high levels. Almost all our fur types are holding there value, Raccoon, Beaver, and Nutria are all in demand. Only Muskrat & Otter have lost some of its value, which was very high from where it was last year. We expect the Otter to gain strength in the near future either next year or the following year. Nutria is in demand and it remains strong for this coming year. This is partly because the Argentinean market (the largest raw Nutria producer) has not had a good supply this year. There is a good chance this need has stimulated even greater demand for the coming year in Louisiana.. THE MAIN ACTIVITIES FOR 2007: Our moneys and our efforts are being directed towards the Chinese market for the last 3 years and continue to keep this direction. The council had a booth in China fur fair last January and we set up a number of customers for the Louisiana raw fur business. China still remains the biggest manufacturing producing country for furs and will remain our biggest opportunity for raw fur sales growth to the future. Four years ago we started a program to use Nutria fur to make FELT for felt hats and we have finally seen some progress. The president of a very large Cowboy hat manufacturer is asking for our Nutria fur as a sample for his production. He believes he can use about 50,000 skins to begin production for the coming year. Bernard Stoll from Israel is considering a program with us for the coming year. He would like to set up to buy 100,000 skins. Rathaus, a dealer from New York, is also interested in developing a program to sell the Argentinean skins. David Kirsch, who was an old customer of Louisiana, is now interested in repeated purchases. Dealers, who have indicated interest in our program of selling raw fur to the international market, are being called about supply and demand. CONCLUSION: The market is opening up for the sale of raw wild furs. Confidence has returned, interest is beginning to strengthen for Louisiana raw fur products. Almost all of our other Louisiana furs have begun to strengthen: Beaver, Raccoon Grey Fox, Bob Cats, & Muskrat. We now have active customers discussing programs with us and we are therefore confident in the outcome of this year s program. We should still attain our desired price for Nutria due to a low supply of Nutria we should even expect an increase. It is only a question of time until this takes place. Michael Consiglio Fur and Alligator Advisory Council Booth at the Beijing Fur Show,

4 Page 4 FAAC Newsletter Washington D.C. Education Recent activities in Washington, DC have focused on two primary fronts. The first has been the ongoing efforts to secure continued (FY08) annual appropriations for Dr. Nevarez s alligator disease research. This research is funded through a Cooperative Agreement between the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries through the annual Agriculture appropriations bill. This appropriation is considered to be an earmark subject to all of the new rules, restrictions and political considerations in both the House and Senate making this a more difficult challenge. Extensive communications with key La Congressional Delegation offices continues as the FY08 appropriations legislative process continues and is completed sometime in Fall 2007 The second front involves the ongoing effort to secure access to federal National Wildlife Refuges in southwest LA for alligator egg collection. The USFWS and particularly the National Wildlife Refuge System offices have been highly resistant to this proposal. A meeting with key USFWS personnel was hosted by Congressman Melancon in Washington, DC that was attended by Congressman Boustany, staff from other LA Delegation offices, and FAAC/LWF representatives. As a result of that meeting, a detailed egg collection proposal is being prepared by LWF for a second meeting with USFWS personnel to be held in Louisiana this summer. Depending on the results of that meeting, it may be necessary to have another meeting with LA Congressional offices in Washington, DC. Glenn Delaney Education on the Hill State-Wide Public Education The Fur and Alligator Advisory Council promotes wildlife management and interacts with students, teachers and the general public at events such as the Sportsman Show, the State Fair, the Louisiana Science Teachers Association and Future Farmers of America. Volunteers and staff present at public libraries and public schools, teaching children about conservation and native species. This year, volunteers at the State Fair spent three weeks speaking to students attending the fair on class fieldtrips. Louisiana State Fair, November 2006

5 Page 5 The Fur and Alligator Advisory Council s education program coordinated with other education programs around the state, and presented at schools, libraries and public events. This year, we visited and lectured at 13 libraries and 18 schools. Other events included the Cameron Fur Festival, the Gonzales Sportsman s Show, the Trapper s Convention in Alexandria, and the 78 th Annual Louisiana State FFA Convention. We have successfully networked with people in various agencies including the Louisiana FFA, LSU Ag Center, Louisiana 4-h, and the Barataria National Estuary Program. Various educational activities including a coloring book and an educational Sabine Parish Library in Many, Louisiana, July 2007 CD for grades 5-8 on alligators and furbearers are in the process of being developed for print and will be used at up-coming events. Children are very interested in fur bearing animals and alligators. Many of these children have hunting experience and some even have some trapping experience. Most formal presentations are about an hour long and involve the following: First, a pelt is displayed to the audience and the audience is quizzed for the identity of the animal from which it came. The audience generally gives mixed responses, and we clarify what the animal was. Some key characteristics of each pelt are pointed out that will help audience members positively identify the animal if seen in the wild. Various concerns surrounding the animals are discussed, including associated ecological problems and nuisances. The last thing that is done with the furbearers is to discuss the similarities and differences in the structure of the skull of each animal using a display plaque with skulls attached to it. An alligator presentation follows. First, in order to grab the audience s attention, a hatchling alligator is shown and the audience is given some brief facts about the hatchling. Next, depending on time availability and age group, the discussion continues while holding the hatchling or a slide show is presented on alligators. Either way, the topics of alligator life habits in the wild and farming and ranching of alligators in Louisiana are covered. Finally, as the audience leaves the presentation area, children have the opportunity to pet the hatchling alligator on the tail. Children take away small gifts of plastic alligators, stickers, and pamphlets. When the children are leaving, they always happy if not inspired by what they saw and experienced during the presentation. At events, a booth is set up and the same items that are used in presentations are displayed. When patrons come to the booth, we always show them points of interest about alligators, furbearers, and the issues surrounding them. Patrons, especially children, seem to be all smiles during their brief visit to the booth. Quentin Morris General Education

6 Page 6 FAAC Newsletter CITES, California & Community Benefits CITES, 2007 was the main event at The Hague, Netherlands June 3-15, This was the most active CITES Conference of all I ve attended since 1979, Costa Rica when the alligator was originally downlisted. And, toward the end of the Conference, some CITES delegates began talking again about whether it was time to downlist the alligator once more to help further streamline and expedite the trade of finished products. This is an interesting but complex issue brought about by the evolution of the personal effects exemption, small leather goods proposals by the European Union and CITES discussions about the impact of the Treaty on livelihoods. In simple terms, the Marsh to Market success story of alligators and other crocodilians constantly pushes CITES to address the realities of economic incentives, obstacles to legal trade and benefits to commerce, conservation and communities. Senator Hollingsworth (left) visiting Gerald Savoie (right) at Savoie Alligator Farm Now that legal trade of classic crocodilians exceeds 600,000 classic skins a year, tens of thousands of CITES permits are issued to trade in finished products. Watchstraps in particular require thousands of repetitive permits, when the trade was already verified as legal at the harvest and tannery level. Several options will be considered to help solve the problem and each deserves careful consideration: 1) downlist the alligator; 2) exempt some small leathergoods products from CITES permits; 3) develop a certification program to exempt qualified programs or species. The goal should be to sustain the legal crocodilian trade through non-detriment findings, universal tagging and enforcement while we enhance value by removing obstacles to finished products trade. Economic sustainability is also part of the balance between commerce and conservation. On this point it is important to remember the trade is evolving into much more than buying raw skins, selling leather and marketing luxury products. The promise of benefits to people and wildlife (wetlands) had much to do with CITES restoring world trade the last three decades. And California was equally moved by the plight of coastal Louisiana following Katrina and Rita and the income alligators could provide to those communities. Half a world away, the eggs from just two crocodile nests in Papua New Guinea pays for a child from the remote Sepik River to attend school for a year. CITES and California will be encouraged to continue their support for the Marsh to Market sustainable use story of crocodilians when communities and livelihoods also benefit.

7 Page 7 It is a long way from Rodeo Drive, St. Honore and Bond Street to the marshes of Louisiana, Africa and Papua New Guinea, but the Marsh to Market story is the same and the benefits to people and wildlife must be linked to commerce, conservation and community. That is why CITES convened Working Groups to report to the Standing Committee in Geneva in 2008 and 2009 on personal effects, universal tagging and small leathergoods exemptions for crocodilian products. That is why California will consider the sunset provision in 2009/2010 to continue allowing the sale of alligator and crocodile products. Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, sponsor of the California legislation, took time to see first hand the way Louisiana alligator harvests and farm operations work. He commented, I see now the alligator is more than an economic benefit to the State it is part of the culture and community. That is why Louisiana should carefully consider its next step (CITES downlisting) to help enhance world trade to the benefit of commerce, conservation and community. In addition to CITES, work continues to analyze world trade in crocodilian meat and recommend ways to increase exports to the European Union and Pacific Rim. More promotion in regional and domestic markets should also improve the values for alligator meat in the US. Finally, conservation education remains a vital part of the Marsh to Market story. Unless more people, government, trade, business, schools and press are better informed about renewable natural resources then sustainable use strategies cannot achieve their full value to commerce, conservation and community. That is the challenge we undertake at CITES, in California and around the world on behalf of Louisiana and the American Alligator. Often standing in the way are misguided campaigns to stop trade in wildlife products, like the booklet below handed out during CITES, 2007 or a misleading ad in the May, 2007 National Geographic magazine about rampant poaching of a crocodile that hasn t been in trade for 20 years or the unkept promise of the National Zoo in Washington to feature the alligator in a Conservation Corner display about sustainable use and the Marsh to Market benefits to people and wetlands. To the slogan SAVE THE ALLI- GATOR BUY A HANDBAG, we could add educate a child and benefit a community at the same time. That is community-based commerce and conservation. J. Don Ashley Booklet handed out during CITES, 2007

8 The specific goals of the Council F U R A N D A L L I G A T O R A D V I S O R Y C O U N C I L /2 Washington St. Natchitoches, LA Phone: Fax: t.sturman@suddenlink.net...industries conserving species, habitats, and cultures. 1) To educate the public regarding the need for trapping as a sound wildlife management tool and regarding the logic of managing furbearing species and alligators as renewable resources. 2) To identify the current consumers of Louisiana furs and alligator hides. 3) To identify present and potential Louisiana fur and alligator marketing problems, obstacles, and related significant issues. 4) To strengthen existing markets and develop new markets and marketing strategies for raw and finished Louisiana fur and alligator products. 5) To develop and implement an international advertising campaign to promote the utilization of raw and finished Louisiana fur and alligator products. 6) To examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning any aspect of the fur and alligator industry including habitat management, harvest, and marketing that will enhance the future of the industry and perpetuate the conservation of these species. 7) To make specific recommendations to the Secretary regarding the expenditures of monies from the Alligator Resource Fund including any annual surplus only as provided for in R.S. 56:279. Fur and Alligator Advisory Council /2 Washington St. Natchitoches, LA Postage Address Label