A Mississippi teenager’s oyster bed restoration project has achieved remarkable success, producing over 1,500 oysters for coastal ecosystem recovery.
A 14-year-old Girl Scout from Gulfport, Mississippi has produced over 1,500 oysters as part of a vital oyster bed restoration project. Demi Johnson won a National Geographic Society award for her environmental work, which aims to reverse the dramatic decline of oyster populations along the Gulf Coast.
Johnson started her conservation project in seventh grade while pursuing the Girl Scout Silver Award. Through the Mississippi Oyster Gardening program, she tends to underwater wire boxes filled with young oysters at local piers.
These marine creatures play a crucial role in coastal environments. When conditions are right, a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. Their reefs protect coastlines from erosion and provide homes for more than 300 different marine species.
The project is especially significant for Mississippi’s coastal communities. Just 30 minutes from Gulfport, Biloxi was once known as the “Seafood Capital of the World.” In the late 1800s, the area’s waters yielded millions of pounds of oysters and shrimp.
The region’s oyster populations have faced severe challenges. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed 90 percent of Mississippi’s oyster reefs. The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster released over 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, further damaging local oyster bed restoration efforts.
More recent environmental changes have also harmed oyster populations. In 2019 and 2020, freshwater released from the Bonnet Carre spillway in Louisiana killed many young oysters along the Mississippi coast. Oysters need salty or brackish water to survive.
The Mississippi Oyster Gardening program supports oyster bed restoration by providing volunteers with free materials. Participants receive wire boxes containing juvenile oysters, called spat, from the Auburn University Shellfish Lab in Alabama.
Johnson’s dedication to the project has shown impressive results. In her first season (2022-2023), she tended five boxes and produced 480 oysters. The following year, she increased her output to 1,100 oysters from five boxes at Schooner Pier in Biloxi.
The teen’s success earned her recognition at the National Geographic Explorers Festival in Washington, D.C. Out of 2,100 global submissions, Johnson’s video “Off-Bottom Oysters” was one of only two U.S. projects to receive a 2024 Significant Achievement Award and $1,000 grant.
The festival connected Johnson with other young environmental advocates from around the world. She met teens working on various conservation projects, including a Ghanaian oyster gardener and a Pakistani student creating eco-friendly menstrual products.
Johnson plans to expand her oyster bed restoration work by managing nine oyster gardens in the upcoming season. She emphasizes quality over quantity and continues to learn from experts like Mississippi Oyster Gardening program coordinator Emily McKay.
The program welcomes volunteers of all ages. People without waterfront access can “adopt” gardens to support the conservation effort. Program staff provide training and support to ensure successful oyster growth at all sites.
Looking ahead, Johnson plans to pursue a career in environmental law. She wants to create and enforce policies that protect nature, noting that the environment needs advocates to speak on its behalf.
The 2023-2024 oyster gardening season has been the most successful in the program’s eight-year history. Volunteers at 48 sites along the Mississippi coast collected over 93,000 oysters, significantly advancing local oyster bed restoration goals.
The project also highlights the historical importance of oysters to Black communities along the coast. After emancipation, formerly enslaved people found economic opportunities in the oyster industry. Black oystermen played a crucial role in the industry’s success.
A Black restaurateur, Thomas Downing transformed oysters from working-class food into a luxury item. His upscale New York oyster cellar attracted wealthy customers and helped establish oysters as a premium dining choice.
Black fishing communities flourished along the East Coast and in the South. Today, families continue this heritage despite ongoing environmental and economic challenges.
The Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, supported Johnson’s project through its partnership with National Geographic. The museum offered a three-day film workshop during which Johnson learned video production skills and interviewed a local oyster farmer.
Museum Executive Director Julian Rankin praised Johnson’s ability to combine her conservation expertise with field research. The teen plans to take additional oyster gardening courses this summer to improve her skills and inspire others to join the program.
P.J. Waters, an associate extension professor at Auburn University Marine Extension and Resource Center, expressed enthusiasm about Johnson’s involvement. The program staff works closely with gardeners to ensure successful oyster growth at all sites.
The global decline of oyster reefs has far-reaching effects on coastal environments and economies. Scientists estimate that 85 percent of oyster reefs worldwide have been lost, making oyster bed restoration efforts increasingly urgent.
