Image by Flickr user OneEighteen Image by 20090822-shrimp.jpg

Local shrimpers have faced a trio of threats for years: Declining catches, more expensive gas and docking, and increased foreign competition.

Read more stories on this subject in our shrimping topic page.And it's a battle that the few remaining shrimpers are still being bruised by.

But The Post and Courier's Bo Peterson has put together an excellent piece that shows just how the shrimpers are getting bit and how by marketing themselves directly, they can still make some cash.

Go an take a read.

Focusing on regional business is becoming not only a feel good program, but one of economic sense. Buying the shrimp straight from the shrimpers can go a long ways towards getting you fresh shrimp and saving both of you some cash.