Texas officials announced Monday the removal of five abandoned vessels weighing over 21,000 pounds from waters near Galveston Island. The cleanup operation targeted boats in Offatts Bayou and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway that, according to the Texas General Land Office (GLO), posed environmental and safety risks.
GLO officials said the abandoned boats threatened to leak fuel and toxic chemicals into local ecosystems and create navigational hazards in one of Texas’ busiest recreational waterways.
“As a former resident of Galveston Island for over a decade, preserving the health and beauty of its coastal waters is a mission close to my heart,” said Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. “The safe removal of abandoned boats is essential to the GLO’s efforts to protect marine life and coastal communities from the considerable risks presented by these unsightly hazards, including leakage of fuels and toxic chemicals.”
According to the GLO, the fiberglass vessels had sunk into Gulf-bottom mud, releasing toxic residue into surrounding waters. Officials said their locations — near residential properties, waterfront restaurants, and Galveston Island’s main bridge — made removal particularly urgent.
The GLO partnered with the Gulf of America Alliance for the operation. The regional partnership includes over 165 organizations across five Gulf states.
“I am thrilled that five abandoned boats in Offatts Bayou and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway were safely removed through our partnership with the Gulf of America Alliance,” Buckingham said.
GLO officials noted that the cleanup supports both environmental protection and economic interests, saying the removal will enhance tourism and commerce on the island by improving aesthetics and safety in high-traffic fishing areas.
The project is part of broader Gulf of America preservation efforts by the GLO. Buckingham, who became Texas’ first female Land Commissioner in 2022, has prioritized marine ecosystem protection alongside disaster response and border security initiatives.
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