The Oyster is Your World

In 2019, the prolonged opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway led to over 90% mortality of oysters in the western sound, prompting the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) to initiate a comprehensive restoration strategy. The MDMR Shellfish Bureau identified 300 acres north of Deer Island in Biloxi Bay as a suitable site for experimental oyster reef restoration. 
From 2019 to 2023, MDMR used both traditional and innovative techniques, deploying 61,000 cubic yards of cultch material and 86 million spat-on-shell oysters. Additionally, 1 million oysters were relayed from various reefs, and 40,000 oysters from the Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program were introduced. These efforts have enhanced oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound, increased genetic variation among reefs, and created new areas for harvesting. The restored reefs have improved estuarine habitat, water quality, and habitat for commercially and recreationally important fish species, supporting overall seafood catch. 
The project also provided crucial spawning habitats for shrimp, crab, and various fishes, supporting their life cycles and the broader estuarine ecosystem. Following the 2019 spillway event, MDMR closed the oyster fishery indefinitely to focus on restoration, and by Fall 2023, Biloxi Bay had transformed from a barren mud bottom into a thriving reef with an estimated 2.5 million market-size oysters. This project highlights the importance of proactive and adaptive management in response to environmental challenges, contributing significantly to the region's ecological and economic prosperity. 

Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations in the Mississippi Sound are declining due to habitat degradation and recent mass mortality events. Phytoplankton assemblages are the main food source for larvae and fluctuate in quality with environmental conditions. These fluctuations, in turn, impact the settlement and growth of oyster larvae. A biochemically-based model for oyster larvae has been applied to evaluate the influence of food quantity and quality of on larval performance in Mississippi Sound. Application of this model suggests that in 2021 and 2022 food quality may have limited larval success. Plankton size distributions in these two years also suggest that plankton of appropriate size for larval feeding may be limited during crucial periods of the spawning season. Previous analyses of plankton lipid, protein, and carbohydrate composition analyses enables the investigation of the impact of food quality on the growth, metamorphosis, and settlement of larvae. However, the influence of phytoplankton size distributions in limiting food resources was not considered. This modeling approach is expanded here to evaluate the influence of plankton size distribution and consequences of relative food quantity and quality in supporting successful larval survival. Investigating whether larvae face nutritional limitations due to the size of available food will provide insight into the effect of food supply on larval survival, growth, and successful metamorphosis. The goal of this study is to examine how variations of phytonutrient characteristics defined in terms of quantity, quality, and size of food will impact the settlement and survival of oyster larvae.

The eastern oyster is an integral part of the heritage, economy and ecology of the northern Gulf of Mexico. In Mississippi, oyster populations have suffered several mass mortality events post-Deepwater Horizon because of climate change-related precipitation events altering water quality conditions. Oyster reef restoration and revitalization of the oyster industry are top priorities for the State of Mississippi, but project planning and implementation require a better understanding of the complex interactions between management decisions and the factors that affect oyster abundance, health, and survival. The Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE) is a consortium of Mississippi's four main research universities with the mission of supporting the sustainable use of the State's important resources through a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic Mississippi Sound ecosystem. Using a structured decision making approach, we characterized the decision context surrounding oyster restoration in Mississippi to inform research and management priorities for the recovery of a sustainable oyster resource. We also reviewed the activities the State has implemented or is considering in order to reach its oyster restoration goals of increasing oyster harvest, creating new jobs and business opportunities, and improving the environment through species recovery, habitat creation and cleaner water. These restoration activities are centered around three major approaches: improve water quality, restore and enhance reefs, and promote aquaculture. The potential consequences of these decision alternatives are being considered to evaluate the trade-off between oyster production for harvest and ecological benefits. Yet, climate change impacts on environmental variability are a key source of uncertainty for future oyster populations and applied research is needed to inform the decision making process. 

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, contributes economically, culturally, and ecologically to the livelihoods of many throughout the Gulf of Mexico. This species constitutes a major fishery in the Gulf, and provides numerous ecosystem services, including water filtration, shoreline stabilization, and habitat for other fish species. However, this species has been facing population decline throughout the Gulf due to both manmade and natural hazards. Manmade hazards include overharvest and pollution, while climate change has caused issues such as increased storm activity and severity, which has led to reef damage and freshwater influx. These combined factors have severely damaged the Gulf oyster industry, and solutions to these problems are desperately needed.
One method to improve the resiliency of this industry is through community engagement by increasing stakeholder communication. This project directly engages stakeholders via a Community of Practice (CoP). A CoP is a group of individuals who share a concern or passion about a topic and work toward shared goals. This CoP consists of oyster stakeholders in Alabama and Mississippi, and its goal is to share knowledge and tools relating to oyster harvest and management. CoP participants also communicate to identify key problems in the oyster industry and create solutions through sustained engagement. The CoP has hosted five meetings since May 2023 covering topics ranging from permitting and regulations, oyster gardening, oyster crop insurance, and oyster-related scientific research. These meetings have enhanced communication and collaboration across all sectors of the oyster industry via these meetings to improve the oyster industry and better manage this species in the face of climate change and manmade hazards.