They remove 700 abandoned boats in the waters of southern Florida

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has removed more than 700 abandoned boats in the State's waterways so far this year, and together with Miami authorities announced severe measures for negligent owners.

This year, 737 vessels have been removed, a figure that exceeds the annual average of 600 and could increase before December, as 306 remain pending.take out of the water, the entity reported in statements toNBC News.

Likewise, he announced an initiative with the city of Miami and the Miami-Dade County Illegal Dumping Unit called "Operation Clean Sweep", which plans to clean South Florida's waterways of all abandoned boats that pose a danger to boaters and the environment, the media outlet cited.

As part of Operation Clean Sweep, "risky" vessels will be inspected and abandoned vessels marked throughout South Florida, including Biscayne Bay, where there is increasing abandonment.

According to the FWC, there are currently more than 900 open investigations into abandoned vessels across the state, creating not only danger to navigation and the environment, but excessive costs to the state.

Removing and destroying a single abandoned vessel can cost up to $24,000, the entity stressed, and said that although a plan has been enabled for the owners of these boats to request their free removal, those who do not do so will face high fines and even death. jail.

The Vessel Delivery Program (VTIP), coordinated by FWC in Miami, allows owners ofvessels in distress or abandoned request the free removal of your boat through the followinglink.

This initiative can help the boat owner avoid heavy penalties and fines, including jail, warned Officer Tyler Dunn, who explains that many of these boats do not even have night lighting, "so they are very dangerous" in the evening.

Others that are underwater are also poorly visible during the day, and boaters do not see them "until you are right on top, which in turn can cause serious damage to your boat or eject people at a certain speed," he argued.

These submerged ships also "tend to dump fuel and other hazardous materials into the water," affecting fish and marine plants.

Negligent boat owners will face strict consequences, as they "will be subject to arrest and will have their privileges to register any vehicle or vessel in the state of Florida revoked until they pay the amount it cost to remove and destroy them," Lt. Oriel Tameron, from the City of Miami Marine Patrol unit.