PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has conducted a significant survey of saw palmetto berries in the JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area in western Palm Beach County.

“These individuals are not only illegally harvesting berries,” said Maj. Dustin Bonds, FWC South A Regional Commander. “They often leave behind large amounts of trash and waste. Preserving our natural resources is of the utmost importance to our officers; we will prosecute anyone who violates these laws.”

In a recent operation conducted between August 14 and 29, FWC officials announced they seized over 10,000 pounds of illegally harvested saw palmetto berries.

According to officials, saw palmetto plays a crucial role as a habitat and food source for over 200 species of wildlife. Illegal harvesting of these berries not only deprives wildlife of a vital resource, but also hinders the growth and reproduction of this slow-growing plant.

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This rigorous approach resulted in the arrest of seven people who are now charged with a total of seven felonies, nine misdemeanors and eight non-criminal citations.

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