Following the conclusion of Boca Bash, an annual gathering on Lake Boca Raton in South Florida, a group of boaters was observed disposing of what seemed to be a receptacle filled with empty cans into the water near the shoreline.
Their disturbing actions were caught on video, which went viral, outraging Floridians.
Seth Stern, a videographer for Wavy Boats wasn't initially sure what he’d captured. A second look at the footage confirmed the worst.
“I was absolutely disgusted,” he said. “This was done deliberately, like, they went out, they dumped their trash, they turned around, they came right back in. I mean, it was disgusting.”
Disgust heightened when the teens celebrated their emptied cans by pumping them up in the air.
Stern's recording documented the scene following the incident in the water. Observers, including law enforcement, noticed the debris left behind.
Marine biologist Madeline Kaufman, with the volunteer-run organization Debris Free Ocean, said, “It’s shocking, disheartening.”
Environmental Education
One of the teen's parents released a statement calling the incident a “teaching moment” and recognized the need for community service.
“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. 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." They went on to say:
As a family, we agree with FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto that this is a teaching moment for the young kids involved and they should certainly participate in community service and ocean conservation efforts to deepen their understanding of the importance of our community and environment.
Legal Consequences
Once law enforcement quickly identified the individuals responsible for the incident, revealing them to be minors, they officially accused them of a felony offense related to environmental contamination that posed a risk to human, animal, plant, or aquatic well-being.
The third-degree felony charges entail a potential sentence of up to five years of imprisonment along with a fine of up to $50,000.
The arrest report filed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charles Ruth, indicates that the 15-year-old driver of the boat dumped a container into the ocean containing “plastic water bottles, cans, food bags, plastic cups, and other unidentifiable items.”
Environmental Impact
A statement made by FWC Maj. Dustin Bonds said, "The negative impact this type of deliberate pollution has on our beaches, reef system and estuaries cannot be understated. This type of criminal activity harms our wildlife and undermines the investment made by the people of Florida to keep our unique ecosystem healthy.”
FWC Recommendations
Every day, various debris finds its way into the lakes, waterways, and marine environments of Florida, whether through intentional or accidental means. This issue is prevalent across all bodies of water in the state.
Items such as bottles, cans, plastic bags, Styrofoam containers, and other rubbish are carried in by storm drains and activities on both the water and along the shoreline. This visible waste poses a significant threat to the local fish and wildlife, as well as to navigational safety and human health.
There is a growing focus on investigating the potential health implications for humans resulting from the accumulation of minuscule plastic particles within the food chain. Extensive documentation already exists on the adverse effects of this phenomenon on various animal species, such as birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals.
These creatures often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion. The gradual accumulation of these foreign objects within their digestive systems can give rise to health complications and, tragically, even mortality. Additionally, entanglement in items like plastic bags, fishing lines, or other forms of waste can result in infections, limb loss, malnutrition, and ultimately, death.
One of the teens onboard the boat, who did not participate in the trash dumping and who has not been charged, was agreeable to consequences for his friends' actions.
“I feel like he deserves whatever happens, because he made a really bad decision.”
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