Oyster Duty

Some see oysters as a yummy treat. Others value them as a source of pearls. But to Demi Johnson, of Gulfport, Mississippi, oysters are environmental superstars. “They’re really important,” the 15-year-old told TIME for Kids. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of seawater a day. They remove algae and harmful organisms. Groups of oysters form reefs, which provide habitat for other sea creatures and protect against erosion.

Demi learned all of this by oyster gardening. That’s the process of raising oysters in cages for conservation purposes. When she started, in 2022, “I knew absolutely nothing,” Demi says. Today, she’s an expert. This school year, Demi earned a master oyster gardener certificate. She completed a free course run by the Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program (MOGP). “I want others to get into this,” Demi says. “You don’t have to do a lot” to take care of your oysters, “but the impact it has for the environment, it’s great.”

BIG SKILLS Demi shows off her master oyster gardener certificate after training with the Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program.

Dock of the Bay

There used to be lots of oysters in Mississippi’s coastal waters. But their numbers have dropped. This is because of disasters such as oil spills and hurricanes. That’s what the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says.

Oyster gardening is a way to help. “Anyone can get involved,” MOGP research assistant Emily McCay says. All that’s needed is access to a dock or pier. Demi started oyster gardening as a Girl Scouts project. A hurricane damaged her troop leader’s dock. So McCay helped Demi find a new location.

CAGE OF WONDERS One of Demi’s nine cages is pulled from the bay, full of helpful oysters.

During oyster gardening season, Demi and her mom go to Schooner Pier, on Biloxi Bay. Demi has nine cages. “Once a week I go out there,” she says. She pulls the cages from the water. She shakes each one to remove algae and mud. She checks for predators, such as snails and crabs. Sometimes, she takes her oysters out for inspection.

OYSTER INSPECTION Demi checks on her oysters at Schooner Pier, on Mississippi’s Biloxi Channel.

This spring, Demi’s oysters will be big enough to be harvested. Demi will go with McCay to pick them up. Harvested oysters will then be “planted” on existing reefs in the Mississippi Sound. “Demi has gone above and beyond,” McCay says. “She’s actively helping out with so many different aspects of this program.”

NEXT GENERATION Baby oysters, called “spat,” grow in an old oyster shell. With care, they’ll become a large cluster.

Giving Back

Demi has raised more than 1,500 oysters. “She’s a great ambassador for the program,” MOGP leader P.J. Waters says. She’s a great supporter, too. Last year, Demi won a National Geographic award. She donated the $1,000 cash prize to the MOGP. “We were able to invest that into gear and oysters to grow the program,” Waters says.

GROWING UP A heavy cluster of young oysters is ready to provide a home for other sea life.

Demi is happy to help. “It’s great to be able to do something” that benefits the environment, she says. “It’s a really good feeling.”

Inspired?

Let Demi’s story inspire you to do your part for the environment. Click below for ideas about how you can help protect the planet.