Charges are being faced by seven individuals after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recovered more than 10,000 pounds of illegally harvested saw palmetto berries in western Palm Beach County.
According to FWC, the recovery took place between Aug. 14 and Aug. 29 from the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, a protected region. The agency reported the arrest of seven individuals on charges including seven felonies, nine misdemeanors, and eight noncriminal citations.
A permit is required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to harvest and sell saw palmetto berries in Florida. Saw palmettos serve as a habitat and food source for over 200 wildlife species, as per FWC.
FWC mentioned that trespassing and theft of saw palmetto berries have been ongoing issues in Florida during late summer, as the berries typically ripen from August to October. Saw palmetto berries are commonly marketed as a dietary supplement and used to treat various diseases and disorders.
The Endangered Plant Advisory Council unanimously recommended the addition of saw palmetto to the commercially exploited plant list, and FWC emphasized the seriousness of this violation. For more information on saw palmetto berries and the related laws, please click here.
This article was originally published by Aja Dorsainvil on Scripps News West Palm Beach.
