Two teens are facing felony charges after a viral video showing boaters dumping trash in the ocean off Boca Raton sparked outrage, officials said Friday.
The viral video, which was posted on the Instagram account Wavy Boats, shows 10 people onboard the boat traveling out of Boca Inlet on Sunday. Two people are seen emptying large garbage cans full of trash and bottles into the ocean before heading back to the Boca Bash, an unsanctioned boating party, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials.
The teens — 15 and 16 years old — turned themselves in to police Friday, FWC officials said. They both face felony third-degree charges of causing pollution so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, aquatic life or property, which amounts to $50,000 in fines or up to 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. "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."
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The arrest reports said two days after the incident, investigators got to the home of the owner of the boat, who opened the door, and admitted that his son, who is 15, was involved.
“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," the family said Friday in a statement. "We want to extend our sincerest apologies to everyone who has been impacted and rightfully upset by what occurred."
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The statement said they have been cooperating with authorities and the FWC and agree that this is a teaching moment for the teens, adding that they should do community service and participate in ocean conservation efforts.
The father of the other teen involved told investigators his son was not attending school at Boca Raton High School because of the incident and that they too were seeking legal counsel.
"My son is a minor child and we have no comment," the father of the 16-year-old told NBC6.
"The negative impact this type of deliberate pollution has on our beaches, reef system, and estuaries cannot be understated," said Major Dustin Bonds, South Alpha Regional Commander. "This type of criminal activity harms our wildlife and undermines the investment made by the people of Florida to keep our unique ecosystem healthy."
Seth Stern, who shot the viral video, told NBC6 he is a father and hopes this is a teaching moment for the teens.
"I know my kids, when they are old enough, they're gonna make mistakes, and that's exactly what these kids did, they made a mistake," he said. "They're getting a slap on the wrist, is really what it comes down to."
“It's just reckless and disregard for the Florida coastal environment,” said J.P. Brooker, the director of the Florida Conservation Program with Ocean Conservancy.
