FWC: Several IDed as investigation continues into boaters seen dumping trash into ocean

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is continuing its investigation into a group of boaters seen dumping trash — then gleefully celebrating what they did — in the waters off South Florida over the weekend.

The incident was captured on video taken by social media content creator Wavy Boats. It shows the group dumping two garbage cans full of trash into the ocean about a mile and a half offshore the Boca Raton Inlet Sunday afternoon, during the annual Boca Bash.

FWC spokesperson Arielle Callender said Tuesday that “several subjects have been identified” and that the agency’s investigators “are working closely with the State Attorney’s Office to identify appropriate charges for this incident.”

The video upset many who watched it, including FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.

“Like many people, my phone has been blowing up all weekend since this came out online and we are not happy about it,” he told Local 10 News. “I am glad the media is covering this.”

Barreto said multiple agencies, including the FWC, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are investigating the matter.

The FWC is asking anyone involved with or who has information on the incident to call its Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

If you want to help clean up South Florida’s beaches, visit VolunteerCleanup.org.


About the Authors
Christina Vazquez headshot

Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina."

Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

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