The Gazebo Gazette
BAY ST. LOUIS (GG) — The Saint Stanislaus Marine Science program officially kicked off its ninth season of oyster gardening last week, continuing a tradition that supports coastal restoration and hands-on education for students.
In August, SSC interns and Marine Science students placed 625 oyster shells covered in spat—tiny baby oysters averaging just 1 centimeter in size—into 13 gardens suspended beneath the school’s pier. Throughout the school year, the students will care for the oysters by monitoring growth, removing predators, and cleaning away mud and algae.
The program, designed for restoration rather than consumption, plays a vital role in sustaining the Mississippi Sound. By May, the oysters will be turned over to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for placement on local reefs.
Since its launch, Saint Stanislaus has contributed nearly 40,000 oysters toward reef restoration in the region, helping to improve water quality and habitat for marine life.
(Photo contributed by St. Stanislaus)
