Overview

Pet turtle hatchling production was down sharply in 2009 with production of roughly 2.2 million hatchlings from 67 producers. This decline was the result of several factors, including the extensive damage to facilities and loss of breeding stock caused by Hurricane Gustav in late 2008, global economic trends (virtually all hatchlings are exported due to FDA restrictions on domestic sales) and increasing self-sufficiency in China’s farmed turtle industry. Nonetheless, estimated hatchling sales exceeded $2.1 million in 2009. No major changes are anticipated in the turtle production or marketing situations for 2010.  (Outlook for Louisiana Agriculture 2010)  June 2010 ... Turtles


Marketing

• CVM and the Regulation of Turtles, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration - This webpage explains the public health act that regulates the sale of pet turtles.
• Declared Turtle Trade From the United States, World Chelonian Trust, 2006 - Turtles exported from the United States have four primary destinations. The first is directly to the food markets of China and Southeast Asia (Taiwan and Japan). The second is to Asian turtle farms where the majority are "grown out," much like U. S. cattle feedlots, and then sent to market. The third is for breeding stock in turtle farms, and the fourth is for the huge pet markets around the world.
• Turtle farmers hoping to lift sales ban, Shreveport Times, 2007.

Production

• Census of Aquaculture (2005), USDA, 2006.
• Pet Turtle, Louisiana State University (LSU) Agricultural Center - This webpage provides links to related information and to lists of LSU research and extension contacts. 
• Pet Turtle Production, Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, SRAC Publication, 2000. 
• Louisiana Summary, Agricultural and Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 2009.
• 2010 Outlook for Louisiana Agriculture, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, May 2010.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Louisiana Cypress Turtle Farm, Michael and Emma Hebert - With 30 years of experience, the couple hatches red-eared slider turtles for the pet industry.
• Turtle Food?, Oklahoma State University, 1998 - John and Anne Niwa of Gore, Oklahoma, raise American box turtles for the pet industry trade. The Niwas are also gearing up to produce a commercial turtle food.

Links checked June 2010.