2 face felony charges over balloon pollution in Biscayne Bay; may face time in jail

MIAMI – A 26-year-old girl and a 29-year-old man are dealing with felony charges over the disposal of balloons into Biscayne Bay after these have been used to embellish a yacht during a marriage proposal.

A witness shared a video on Instagram and environmentalists have been outraged. Marine animals usually mistake the nonbiodegradable deflated balloons for jellyfish. Turtles eat it. Seabirds feed it to their younger.

Miami-Dade police officers also issued civil citations with greater than $23,000 in fines for the unlawful dumping on the Bayshore Landing Marina in Coconut Grove. This has been a more painful studying experience for Martina Gaspoz and David Torres-Bocanegra who had been each working.

Officers arrested Gaspoz on Friday and Torres-Bocanegra on Wednesday. They're going through prices of willful disregard for the environment, a third-degree felony punishable with a advantageous of as much as $50,000 or imprisonment for 5 years, or each. Her bond was $5,000.

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Officers arrested Torres-Bocanegra for reckless disregard for the surroundings, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable with a fantastic of up to $10,000 or 60 days in jail, or each. His bond was $500. Detective Angel Rodriguez later clarified there was a mistake with the charge.

Detectives did not consider the couple who got engaged on Tuesday to be the culprits. Instead, officers issued citations to the two firms — the occasion planner and the yacht constitution — that the future groom hired.

Additionally, not everybody who obtained a $2,510 citation actually touched the balloons or was present for the celebration.

Dessideria D’Caro De Capriles, of Doral, is the proprietor of the charter yacht. Gabriela Castillo was the event coordinator. Francisco Feo was the person in charge of the constitution firm. Officers additionally cited Tulio Capriles, Iulia Tyshchenko, Viacheslav Diadiura, and Efrain Hernandez.

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Environmental advocates need Miami-Dade officials to do extra.

The Florida Ocean CleanUp Society, a nonprofit organization, set up a Change.org petition asking Miami-Dade’s Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the chief bay officer, and commissioners to pilot a brand new ordinance banning balloons and confetti in coastal waters.

“Banning balloons and confetti isn’t going to unravel the pollution downside. Nonetheless, we consider it’s essential and necessary to spark a cultural shift,” the petitioner wrote including, “We beg the Miami-Dade county to pass legislation to protect our ecosystem and enhance environmental awareness among boaters and the constitution business.”

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For more stories about defending Biscayne Bay, visit the Don’t Trash Our Treasure page. Native 10 News Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre leads the crew.

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