Fishermen and residents press for answers after Venture Global dredging excursion in Calcasieu Lake
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Summary
Fishermen, oyster farmers and residents told the Cameron Parish Police Jury that sediment from recent CP2 dredging tied to Venture Global has smothered oyster beds and harmed catches; the company said remediation will begin immediately and promised surveys, dive sampling and a complaints process.
Venture Global representatives told the Cameron Parish Police Jury on Sept. 2 they will begin remediation work this week after an earlier sediment excursion tied to CP2 dredging operations in Calcasieu Lake sparked widespread community concern and reports of oyster mortality.
"A small dredger is being moved into position—we're expecting the remediation to start in the next couple days," a company representative said, estimating roughly 15,000 cubic yards of material would be removed and placed within permitted containment berms. The company said the work has been authorized by permitting agencies and that turbidity curtains, additional berming and water‑quality monitoring would be used to limit further spread.
Why it matters: Commercial fishermen and oyster farmers said the sediment clouding and deposition have already reduced catches and smothered cultured oyster seed and reefs, threatening seasonal income and a local industry. Several speakers described unusually high oyster mortality and sharply reduced trip tickets since dredging began.
Fishermen and aquaculture operators urged independent testing and clearer public reporting. "We've seen trip tickets with drops in up to 85% since construction started," said Alyssa Quartaro of the Habitat Recovery Project, who said fishermen and nonprofit groups seek fishing‑informed monitoring alongside agency surveys.
Venture Global responded that it stopped pumping when the company learned of the excursion and has been conducting coordinated surveys and dive sampling with agency input. "As soon as we found out, we stopped the pumping operation immediately," a company representative said, and offered a public complaint mechanism for anyone who believes they were harmed.
Company and agency actions: Venture Global said it would (a) deploy a small dredger to remove spoils and build containment berms inside the permitted area, (b) conduct dive and bathymetric surveys on a roughly 1‑mile radius where required, and (c) conduct water‑quality testing at discharge and disposal points. The company asked residents to identify specific locations of concern and offered to conduct joint site inspections with fishermen and parish representatives.
Community response and next steps: Residents and commercial fishers pressed for independent, third‑party sampling and faster public release of monitoring data from agencies such as Fish and Wildlife, the state coastal authority and the Corps of Engineers. The jury agreed to help organize a small group of fishermen, company representatives and staff for on‑site inspections and to schedule near‑term follow up; jurors emphasized long‑term monitoring and the possibility of pursuing damages or further action if remediation proves insufficient.
What remains unresolved: Several fishermen said they still lack access to timely sampling results; county staff said some agency surveys are ongoing and that earlier memos reflected data available at the time, not a final finding. Venture Global said survey work and dive sampling would continue this week and that the company would follow up with designated local representatives.
The parish urged residents with specific damage claims to contact the company's local representatives so field teams can investigate and document harm. The jury said it will convene additional follow‑up meetings and maintain contact with state and federal agencies overseeing permits.
