Tracking Oysters

Oysters create habitats for extensive ecosystems and purify the water, but their habitats are threatened. "Tracking Oysters" shows scientists measuring the loss by erosion of the oyster habitat at the mouth of the Mississippi River and testing the effectiveness of experimental "oyster-shell seawalls"--which early results show halving of the rate of erosion. ("Louisiana is Disappearing Underwater--Can Oysters Save It", in BBC Future by Amanda Ruggeri.)

The evolution of boats used for harvesting oysters is shown across the top band. At the right are early oystermen in boats that look similar to "French canots” (canoes) using oyster tongs; in the middle are 20th century power boats; and on the left a 21st century "flip-farm" oyster farming craft with electronically powered systems, which farm oysters in floating baskets that have no contact with a sea-bottom oyster bed.

The oysters in the bottom band are courtesy of the Coalition for the Restoration fo Coastal Louisiana.

Acrylics on canvas; oyster shells from coastal Louisiana

52" x 42"

2026