Two abandoned and derelict vessels have been removed from waterways in Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish as part of a larger effort to clear navigation and pollution hazards from the Terrebonne Basin.
The BoatUS Foundation and Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government announced the removals following cleanup work conducted Oct. 6-7. The vessels were located within the Terrebonne Basin, part of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary.
According to the BoatUS Foundation, abandoned boats can create navigational and environmental hazards in the region’s bayous, which support commercial and recreational fishing, boating, tourism, and other activities.
The larger project aims to remove about 75 abandoned and derelict vessels from Terrebonne Parish waterways. Nearly 50 have been removed so far, including the two pulled from the water this week.
“In Terrebonne Parish, bayous are more than just waterways. They are central to who we are, our history and our culture,” said Noah Lirette, chief administrative officer of Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government. “Removing these vessels is how we keep these waterways safe and open for the people who depend on them.”
The project is funded through a BoatUS Foundation grant and is part of a broader national initiative supported by a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Terrebonne Parish is one of 10 organizations across five states, one reservation, and two territories receiving support through the program.
“Every boat we pulled out means safer passage and cleaner waterways for the boaters, tour operators and families who depend on these bayous every day,” said BoatUS Foundation Program Manager Michael Moore.
The cleanup comes ahead of the BoatUS Foundation’s Turning the Tide Summit, scheduled for Dec. 6-9 in New Orleans. The event will bring together industry representatives, environmental stakeholders, and waste management experts to discuss abandoned vessel removal, recycling, and prevention efforts nationwide.
The foundation has also developed a national database for reporting and tracking abandoned and derelict vessels across the United States, U.S. territories, and Freely Associated States.
