On August 4, 2025, a dredging operation tied to the Venture Global CP2 LNG project in Cameron Parish went terribly wrong. A containment berm on Monkey Island failed, releasing thousands of cubic yards of dredged mud into nearby marshes and bayous. The thick sediment poured through a flood-control structure into Calcasieu Lake, coating oyster reefs, suffocating fish, and turning once-productive shrimp waters into what local fishermen now call a “dead zone.”
State regulators later estimated the Monkey Island berm breach caused 9,000 to 18,000 cubic yards of dredge spoil (sediment material removed during dredging) to escape the project site, enough to bury hundreds of acres of coastal wetland. Fishermen who rely on those estuaries to make a living found their crab traps buried and their shrimp season wiped out before it even began.
The Human Cost: Fishermen Left Mud-Covered and Empty-Handed
For the families who make their living in Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, this was not just another industrial accident, it was an economic gut punch. Shrimpers were preparing for their August 11 season opener when the spill hit. Instead, they watched as regulators closed the “No Name” weir to stop more mud from entering Big Lake, trapping shrimp in the marsh to die.
Oystermen and crabbers fared no better. Oyster cages came up coated in sludge; crabbers found their traps filled with mud instead of seafood. Many lost tens of thousands of dollars in gear and revenue in a single week.
“It killed off a ton of crabs and shrimp,” one guide told Gas Outlook. “It basically killed every shrimp, crab, and fish in there.”
Accountability and Conflicting Stories
At first, Venture Global LNG denied that any levee had breached or that sediment reached the lake. But after pressure from the community and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the company admitted that a “discharge containing a higher volume of sediment than anticipated” had occurred.
Local officials issued an emergency permit to dredge out the misplaced mud and reinforce the berms, but for many fishermen, the damage was already done. The community’s message was clear: This was preventable, and someone needs to be held accountable.
Environmental Negligence Has Consequences
This Calcasieu Lake contamination incident is more than an isolated mistake, it is a stark reminder of how fragile our coast is and how easily industrial negligence can devastate both ecosystems and livelihoods.
As environmental and injury attorneys based in Southwest Louisiana, we have seen firsthand how preventable failures like this one ripple through entire communities. Whether it is a plant explosion, pipeline leak, or dredging disaster, the principle is the same: when corporate carelessness harms people and property, those responsible must make it right.
Standing With the Working Families of the Coast
The people of Cameron Parish are resilient. They have weathered hurricanes, floods, and economic shifts, but this time, they are demanding accountability. They are documenting their losses, filing claims, and calling for transparency from the same industrial players who profit from Louisiana’s coast.
At SWLA Injury Attorneys, we stand with those who make their living from the land and water. We believe in holding corporations accountable when their negligence damages Louisiana’s heritage, health, and future.
If Your Livelihood Was Impacted
If you or someone you know was affected by the August 2025 Cameron Parish dredging spill, you may be entitled to environmental disaster compensation for lost income, damaged property, or environmental harm.
Contact SWLA Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation.
We are proud to represent the working families of Southwest Louisiana, and we do not back down from powerful corporations.
