Two teenage boaters recorded on camera dumping trash into the ocean off Boca Raton on April 28 have turned themselves in to authorities to face charges, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Friday afternoon.
In a news release the FWC spokesperson Arielle Callender said, “The two juveniles turned themselves in to authorities to face the consequences for violating the laws related to polluting the waters of the state of Florida.”
The FWC said investigators “were able to work with subject matter experts and the Palm Beach County State ֱ’s Office to determine suitable charges for their violations.”
In a news release, the FWC didn’t specify what the charges would be and didn’t release their names. NBC News, , reported that the teens — one from Boynton Beach, the other from Gulf Stream — face one count each of causing pollution, so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, or aquatic life or property.
“Callous disregard for Florida’s environment will not be tolerated,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement. “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.”
, captured by popular Instagram account Wavy Boats, sparked outrage on the internet and went viral.
Wavy Boats’ clip shows about 10 or so young people frolicking aboard a blue center-console boat. As the vessel headed out to sea, two teenagers moved to the rear of the boat and appeared to dump two trash cans full of what seemed to be beverage cans and bottles into the ocean. A trail of debris bobbed in the wake of the boat — snack bags, beverage cans and plastic bottles among the flotsam.
