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WEST PALM BEACH – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Division of Law Enforcement special agents recently arrested Chad and Keith
Bates for illegally harvesting thousands of aquatic plants without permits in
Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties. Keith Bates, of Okeechobee, has
been charged with one count of grand theft, a third degree felony punishable by
up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, and one count permit violations, a
second degree misdemeanor punishable by up 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Chad
Bates, of Ft. Pierce, was also charged with grand theft, one count of petit
theft, a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a
$1,000 fine, and two counts of permit violations.
“Environmental crimes, like the illegal harvesting of aquatic plants, can
potentially harm our natural resources and impact our quality of life, and will
not be tolerated,” said DEP Division of Law Enforcement Director Henry Barnet.
“Enforcing Florida’s environmental laws is an important part of DEP’s mission.”
DEP agents began investigating the Bates brothers in January after receiving
a tip from the Indian River Sheriff’s Office about some suspicious aquatic plant
harvesting. Agents observed workers for Chad Bates, owner of Bates Plants in Ft.
Pierce, removing Duck Potato, Water Lilies, and others plants from public and
private waterways – including a water conservation area in Indian River County.
Bates would then sell the aquatic plants to area governments, developers, and
private homeowners.
DEP requires special permits for harvesting aquatic plants. Those permits
detail specific areas for plant harvesting and specific types of aquatic plants
suitable for harvesting. Aquatic plants help stabilize lake and canal beds,
provide food for fish, act as a nursery for juvenile fish, and help improve
water quality by filtering sediments and nutrients from the water.
DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement is responsible for statewide environmental
resources law enforcement, providing law enforcement services to Florida State
Parks and Greenways and Trails. Agents investigate environmental resource crimes
and illegal dredge and fill activities, and respond to natural disasters, civil
unrest, hazardous material incidents and oil spills that can threaten the
environment.
To report environmental crime, Cingular and Sprint Nextel wireless customers
can dial *DEP. Callers can also report environmental crimes to the State Warning
Point by calling 1-877-2SAVE-FL or 1-877-272-8335. |
