Do you like oysters?
Ever thought about growing some?
We are excited to announce that oyster gardening is coming to Mississippi! Programs across the country have been raising oysters for restoration purposes and now, you may have the opportunity to play a role in restoring oyster reefs in Mississippi. It is simple, interesting and above all FUN.
Volunteer gardeners receive juvenile oysters called ‘spat’ (about the size of a dime) set on whole shell in the summer.
They raise them in small gardens suspended from their wharfs. The gardens offer protection to the oysters from predators during their critical nursery phase.
In November, the oysters are collected and planted on restoration reef sites within Mississippi waters. The oysters will have grown significantly, generally averaging 2.5 inches. Further, as water temperatures rise in the spring, these oysters will spawn, producing millions of additional larvae for the system.
A restored reef provides tremendous habitat as well as filtration potential. This program, like its sister programs in Alabama and elsewhere will seek to provide a hands on opportunity for citizens interested in the health of Mississippi coastal ecosystems, or maybe just like potential to improve fishing around the wharf.
This is a short overview of an exciting opportunity in Mississippi. We will have more details on Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m. at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center when we will be speaking at the Saturday Seminar. I look forward to seeing many of you there. You can also reach us at [email protected].
Meet the author
P.J. Waters, Ph.D.
Associate Extension Professor
P.J. is an associate extension professor with Auburn University. He coordinates the Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program and its projects, as well as K-12 aquaculture/aquascience programs. PJ works... Read more
Phone: 251-471-2124
Email: [email protected]