Miami-Dade police investigating after video shows boat crew popping balloons into water

MIAMI – Detectives with the Miami-Dade Police Division’s Unlawful Dumping Unit are investigating after video surfaced this week of a ship crew popping balloons whereas on the vessel, authorities confirmed to Native 10 Information on Wednesday.

The video sparked outrage amongst environmental advocates.

It’s the way in which that these individuals disposed of the balloons that’s contributing to the trash in South Florida’s waters.

A South Florida boat dealership posted the video, which exhibits an individual popping balloons on the boat’s rail one after the other following an occasion.

Lots of the balloons grew to become unfastened and went overboard into the water.

One other video exhibits the rubber balloon particles floating within the water.

All of this reportedly occurred on the Bayshore Touchdown Marina in Coconut Grove on Tuesday afternoon.

Boaters mentioned the incident occurred onboard a constitution boat.

David Fuller, with Salty Miami, a crusing constitution that prides itself on environmental consciousness, mentioned he was shocked by the video.

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“We have been shocked to see on social media that they have been intentionally popping these balloons and letting them fall into the bay,” he mentioned. “Probably the most surprising half is that the day earlier than this occurred, I used to be popping out of the channel and I noticed an enormous sea turtle actually in entrance of this boat the place they have been popping these balloons.”

The injury the balloons could cause to South Florida’s marine wildlife is catastrophic, and Miami-Dade police affirm that it’s unlawful to dump balloons within the ocean.

It’s unclear, nonetheless, whether or not the individuals seen popping the balloons within the video would face felony prices or fines.

“Detectives are presently working the case and are following all leads,” Detective Luis Sierra instructed Native 10 Information in an e-mail. “Defending our surroundings and our marine life is a shared accountability.”

The Miami Maritime Group Outboard Division launched the next assertion on the incident:

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“At MMG we delight ourselves on defending and spreading consciousness on the attractive waters we get to name dwelling. The identical waters our associates, colleagues and shoppers get to take pleasure in on the attractive vessels we promote. We don’t delight ourselves in exposing the errors of others, nonetheless we determined the occasions we witnessed in the present day should be seen with your personal eyes to actually perceive the extent of neglect and full lack of care of which quite a few boaters, captains and passengers alike are treating our oceans with.”