Video caught the culprits dumping trash cans of garbage into the sea. Photo: Screenshot//Wavy Boats
Weeks after a video of a group of boaters at the Boca Bash dumping trash into the ocean off Boca Raton, Florida went viral, two of the people involved have turned themselves in.
On April 30, the video appeared on an Instagram account owned by Wavy Boats. The incident took place near the Boca Bash, an annual party that draws thousands of mostly young adults for a weekend of drinking and debauchery.
The pair that turned themselves in were, according to reports, 15 and 16 years old. As such, they haven’t been publicly named. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said they’re both facing felony third-degree charges of causing pollution so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, aquatic life or property. They could face fines of up to $50,000 or five years in prison.
“The illegal dumping of trash in our marine environment is a serious crime, and we worked closely with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office to determine appropriate charges,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto to NBC. “Callous disregard for Florida’s environment will not be tolerated. This is a teaching moment for all those involved — Florida’s natural resources are precious, and we should all do our part to protect them.”
The vessel that was carrying the accused played a role in identifying them. People reported that investigators showed up at the home of the boat owner. He told them that his son was indeed one of those involved. The father of the other teen explained that his son was looking for a lawyer.
“We take the responsibility of caring for our oceans and our community very seriously, and we are extremely saddened by what occurred last weekend at Boca Bash,” read a statement from one of the families. “We want to extend our sincerest apologies to everyone who has been impacted and rightfully upset by what occurred. Our family and our counsel have remained in touch with FWC since we were first contacted by them and have continued to cooperate with all authorities.”
Boca Bash organizers also took to social media to make a statement, saying that, “By no means do we believe this is a representation of the gathering… We implore and expect boaters to keep the waterways clean, uphold proper boating etiquette, and follow state laws while on the water. We also are very clear that it is of utmost importance to hire a captain for your vessel if you are on the water enjoying drinks. We hope the repercussions handed down can be viewed publicly as a warning of how important our waters are to us native Floridians.”
