June 2003 - The Last Word Nothing Finer than Carolina Shrimp My wife Mary and I have spent many afternoons and early evenings in the fall, when the weather cools to tolerable temperatures, throwing the cast net for shrimp. We shared this pleasure with our children, and now our son and daughter can throw shrimp nets that are bigger than they are tall. For each child, netting a first shrimp is somewhat of a right of passage in the Lowcountry. Hardly any children, and very few adults, who have thrown (successfully or not) can pass up a cast net on the dock without stopping to take a throw or two. Shrimp and shrimping have always been a welcome way of life in this part of the state. Shrimp boats provide a picturesque subject on a scenic South Carolina backdrop and many folks have come to view these boats as an added Lowcountry attraction. I've enjoyed being a guest on the "Toomer Girls," Larry Toomer's shrimp boat for both dress and casual cruise parties, and have fond memories of years we lived down river from Stephen Shoemaker, one of this era's early shrimpers. The South Carolina shrimp industry not only provides a local base of jobs, but also the absolute best shrimp in the world. Most locals and semi-locals (people who have been here for more than a year) can tell the difference between a pound of South Carolina shrimp and a pound of imported shrimp. By way of look, smell, texture and most importantly, taste, the shrimp connoisseur can certainly pick out the Lowcountry crustaceans. In a former life, a few years back, we owned a couple of seafood restaurants. We always tried to buy local shrimp, and our customers could tell the difference, particularly the locals, who would get a pound and a pitcher a couple times a week. We would even water freeze a reserve amount for later needs. South Carolina shrimp makes the best shrimp salad, shrimp cocktails, fried shrimp, shrimp scampi, shrimp and grits, barbequed shrimp - you get the picture. As local residents, we should make an extra effort to support our local shrimpers, who are hardworking, honest stewards of our waters. Most shrimpers that I know are independent, and some tend to be graciously obstinate. I surmise that comes from contemplating world problems while working the waters for extended periods of time. They face problems such as weather, freezes, fuel prices, as well as market conditions that may be both unfair and unrealized. The import of foreign shrimp has greatly harmed the market for fresh South Carolina shrimp. Farm-raised foreign shrimp does not have to be labeled as such, and may contain harmful antibiotics such as chloramphenicol. The public may unknowingly purchase foreign shrimp. Some consumers are price-driven and, many times, the imported shrimp are a cheaper, but inferior product. Our healthy waters produce a healthy shrimp. Importation of inferior shrimp is taking its toll on local shrimpers and the shrimping industry. I believe an informed consumer would choose local, healthy South Carolina shrimp over questionable counterpart products. I urge people to ask local stores and restaurants for South Carolina shrimp. You will be glad you did. In the House of Representatives, Catherine Ceips (Beaufort), and I unanimously passed a resolution to inform the public of the imported shrimp and its line content. I have looked extensively into the Louisiana law that protects both the consumer and the local shrimp industry, and we are prepared to create legislation that mirrors success of the Louisiana law. Our residents deserve this and the shrimp industry deserves it as well. Next time you go out casting the net, think of how fortunate we are to have such an abundance of healthy, great tasting shrimp here. Next time you go to a local shrimp boil or sit down to a pound of shrimp and a cold beer, remember the shrimpers and the people in the shrimp industry that make this all possible. Remember, it's all a way of life, and you can help save it. ™ Bill Herbkersman, a member of the House of Representatives for South Carolina, District 118, resides in Bluffton with his family.