12/15 NEWSBREAK: Leaders want declaration of shrimping economic disaster

Lowcountry leaders are asking Gov. Henry McMaster to declare an economic disaster in light of dumping into local markets of foreign shrimp.

The move by Beaufort leaders comes after a local shrimper sent a letter to city council explaining how shrimp dumping – farmed shrimp from other countries that is sold to U.S. retailers and restaurants for below the market price – affects the livelihood of shrimpers in the area.

In November, Mount Pleasant shrimpers expressed the same concern with the town of Mount Pleasant, which also requested a Gov. McMaster to declare an economic disaster.

“They are dumping foreign shrimp in our markets at a pace which outpaces the demand for consumption in the United States,” Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie said then. “The price is going extremely low and the price to operate has never been higher.”

Declaring an economic disaster would help provide small loans or grants to help shrimpers on the water, according to media reports.

In City Paper news today:

CP OPINION: Season’s greetings, happy holidays, Southern courtesy and all of that. “We hope you won’t go down any rabbit holes from people who shout there’s a war on Christmas or any other religious holiday. Despite some religious conspiracy theorists who fly this soiled banner every year, there’s just not a war on celebrating the holidays and the advent of a new year.”

CP HOLIDAY: Charleston bars go out all on holiday cheer. Hotel Emeline, which is currently home to a festive winter courtyard, and The Ryder, home of Little Pine (the holiday version of its bar and restaurant, Little Palm), have extended the decked-out dates, with both holiday iterations running through mid-January. Meanwhile, Prohibition is hosting its annual Sippin’ Santa. In other food news, Lost Isle brings live-fire cooking to Johns Island.

CP NEWS: State agency tracks 2 water-born contaminants. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control now is tracking industrial facilities that discharge so-called “forever chemicals” and other pollutants. Chemicals include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane.

CP NEWS: Francis Marion forest shows signs of fatal saltwater intrusion. Trees in the Francis Marion National Forest are showing signs of severe saltwater intrusion as sea levels continue to rise.

CP NEWS: Charleston airport adds first daily international flight. Air Canada announced today it will add Charleston International Airport as a nonstop destination between Charleston and Toronto, marking it the first airline to offer a daily international flight in South Carolina.

CP NEWS: Charleston nonprofit Neighbors Together gives back year round. Neighbors Together, formerly Tricounty Family Ministries, celebrates 40 years of serving the Lowcountry this year.

In other news:

Tecklenburg urges S.C. to support a new way to vote. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg plans to introduce a resolution supporting a change to the way South Carolina voters elect their local officials in his final council meeting.

Charleston city council bans extra thick plastic bags. Charleston City Council voted Dec. 5 to close the loophole in the plastic ban that exempted extra-thick plastic bags, clarifying the city’s definition of a reusable bag as one with stitched handles, not heat-infused handles, a characteristic of thicker plastic bags.

Folly Beach tries to make short term rental cap work. A citizen’s petition successfully limited the number of short-term rentals on Folly Beach, a lucrative business, especially for a barrier island like Folly Beach. Now, Folly Beach City Council has three months to make the ordinance function smoothly before the renewal period for rental licenses opens in March.

Mount Pleasant one vote away from limiting home building permits. The town of Mount Pleasant is looking to extend limiting building permits until 2029 in an effort to slow growth down and build infrastructure up.

Charleston approves expansion at 2 James Island schools. The Charleston County school board approved a plan to build early learning centers at two James Island schools.

Aspen food festival coming to Charleston in 2024. The inaugural Food & Wine Classic in Charleston is set to take place next year. The three-day event will be held Sept. 27-29.

Lowcountry doctor urges vaccination amid high flu cases. Hospitals across the Lowcountry and the state are urging people to stay safe during the holidays as they track a rise in flu cases.