POINT CLEAR — When it comes to saving Gulf Coast waters, age is just a number for Eagle Scout John Shell.

The 17-year-old's Eagle Reef project is aimed at restoring and revitalizing the marine and coastal ecosystems by deploying mini reefs across the coast of Alabama.

These reefs, constructed using rope, fluted polypropylene and PVC pipes, are populated with filter feeders like oysters and barnacles during the initial six months after installation. This approach facilitates the filtration and purification of more than 30,000 gallons of water per day, amounting to10 million gallons annually, while also attracting fish to the waters surrounding the reefs.

On July 18, the Grand Hotel Resort hosted a press conference, giving attendees the opportunity to witness the reefs firsthand.

The rising senior at St. Paul's Episcopal in Mobile came up with the reef project after a Boy Scout camp out.

"We were fishing off the bank, and we weren't catching any fish. I wasn't used to this because my dad has a boat and we go out fishing multiple times a year, and we usually always catch fish," Shell said.

He said he thinks everyone should be able to visit the Gulf Coast and enjoy the experience of catching a fish, which was what inspired the creation of this project.

Shell conducted online research, stumbling upon ocean habitats such as reefs. While these reefs contribute to the growth of barnacles and oysters, it is their ability to purify water that particularly captivated Shell's attention.

What started out as a service project eventually became something bigger than the Eagle Scout envisioned.

"If someone has a genuine idea and it's a good idea, people will rally behind it, as we see with this project," he said.

Shell's original goal was to create 50 reefs, but with the help of support and donors, he raised $52,000 and deployed 175 reefs.

"I was shocked and was like wow," he said. "In this situation, everybody wins."
In 2022, Shell deployed the first reefs for the Eagle Reef project under the piers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

He partnered with Partners for Environmental Progress and the University of South Alabama. PEP is raising money and awareness from their memberships for cleaning the coastal waters and improving the fish populations. The University of South Alabama Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences will help with location identification, deploying, stocking and maintaining the reefs as well as monitor and testing the waters around them.
Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and father of an Eagle Scout, was excited to hear about Shell's accomplishments.

"As I looked after 29 years in the department of conservation, toward the end of my time, it is people like John that are going to be doing these jobs and doing these things in the future," Blankenship said.

University of South Alabama President Joe Bonner was on hand for the project's launch event, and he said he is proud of the 17-year-old Eagle Scout.
"It is exciting to help facilitate this young man's desire to improve the environment and take action," Bonner said.

The reefs will be deployed in various locations, including Dog River, Fowl River, Dauphin Island, Orange Beach and Perdido Bay.

These reefs thrive anywhere south of Fairhope, cultivating and nurturing marine life. Additionally, they are positioned along the canals of Ono Island, Dauphin Island and Orange Beach, attracting fish and fostering growth throughout the area.