300,000 pounds of live rock stolen in Florida Keys
300,000 pounds of live rock stolen in Florida Keys - Today's Top Stories - MiamiHerald.com
Photos By CAMMY CLARK
cclark@MiamiHerald.com
ISLAMORADA -- Law enforcement officers in the Florida Keys are investigating a $1 million underwater heist -- of rocks.
Sometime in the past 18 months, Miami boat captain Neal Novak told investigators someone stole about 300,000 pounds of decorative live rock he had planned to harvest for salt-water aquariums and reef tanks at his aqua farm three miles offshore of Islamorada.
''As far as I know, this is a first in the Keys,'' said officer Bobby Dube, spokesman for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for more than 20 years. ``We've caught people bringing in live rock, but not stealing from someone's aqua farm.''
The live rock -- made by placing rock on the ocean floor where it becomes home to coral and plant life -- sells for about $3 per pound wholesale and $8 per pound retail, making his loss approximately $1 million to $2 million, Novak said.
''It's a pretty good haul if someone gets away with it,'' Dube said. ``Unless we get a tip or lead, it will be a tough case to solve.''
Novak, 51, said he is devastated.
''I've lost my livelihood,'' he said Tuesday from his home in Cutler Ridge. ``I put over $100,000 into the company and now I might have to go bankrupt.''
Novak, a captain for TowBoatU.S., said he started the live rock harvesting company in 2005. It took six months to obtain a federal permit from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a one-acre leased aqua farm.
Karrie Carnes, spokeswoman for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where the aqua farm was located, confirmed Novak had a permit.
''It's fishy nobody saw 300,000 pounds of rock being removed,'' she said.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is investigating along with FWC. The crime is grand larceny of farm animal aquaculture species, a third-degree felony.
Novak said it took him 2 ½ years to place the rock in the 20 feet of water.
The rock -- a high quality Florida aquifer rock that looks like Swiss cheese -- was acquired from a Homestead quarry. He bought a flatbed truck to transport the rock and a special boat designed to hold the large amount of weight. The boat also contained two salt water holding tanks to transport the live rock.
When taken from the quarry, the rock is light yellow, white or brown. After three to five years in the clear, mostly nutrient-free water off Islamorada, the rocks turn purple and are full of life.
''Coralline algae, feather dusters, sponges -- all kinds of life grow on them,'' Novak said.
The last time he checked on the aqua farm was about 1 ½ years ago, when he took a sample.
''I should have checked on them more, but I had to care for my parents,'' he said.
In the meantime, he set up his home for the sale of the live rock, purchasing five tanks that could hold a total of 1,400 gallons of salt water. He planned to sell the harvest on the Internet or to pet stores and other aquarium suppliers.
Novak said he never thought anyone would steal 150 tons of submerged rock in an area used by recreational divers near about seven other aqua farms.
He discovered the theft May 13, when he and his wife made the trip to the aqua farm to begin the harvest. The rocks were not insured.
''About 30 to 50,000 pounds are left, basically just rubble left in the sand,'' he said. ``That's all I have left of five years of work. It's financially ruined me.''
Anyone with information about this case should contact FWC, the Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Tipsters may remain anonymous and may receive a reward if their information leads to an arrest. Tips can be submitted online at TipSubmit or called in to the Crime Stoppers hot line at 1-800-346-TIPS.
300,000 pounds of live rock stolen in Florida Keys - Today's Top Stories - MiamiHerald.com
Photos By CAMMY CLARK
cclark@MiamiHerald.com
ISLAMORADA -- Law enforcement officers in the Florida Keys are investigating a $1 million underwater heist -- of rocks.
Sometime in the past 18 months, Miami boat captain Neal Novak told investigators someone stole about 300,000 pounds of decorative live rock he had planned to harvest for salt-water aquariums and reef tanks at his aqua farm three miles offshore of Islamorada.
''As far as I know, this is a first in the Keys,'' said officer Bobby Dube, spokesman for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for more than 20 years. ``We've caught people bringing in live rock, but not stealing from someone's aqua farm.''
The live rock -- made by placing rock on the ocean floor where it becomes home to coral and plant life -- sells for about $3 per pound wholesale and $8 per pound retail, making his loss approximately $1 million to $2 million, Novak said.
''It's a pretty good haul if someone gets away with it,'' Dube said. ``Unless we get a tip or lead, it will be a tough case to solve.''
Novak, 51, said he is devastated.
''I've lost my livelihood,'' he said Tuesday from his home in Cutler Ridge. ``I put over $100,000 into the company and now I might have to go bankrupt.''
Novak, a captain for TowBoatU.S., said he started the live rock harvesting company in 2005. It took six months to obtain a federal permit from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a one-acre leased aqua farm.
Karrie Carnes, spokeswoman for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where the aqua farm was located, confirmed Novak had a permit.
''It's fishy nobody saw 300,000 pounds of rock being removed,'' she said.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is investigating along with FWC. The crime is grand larceny of farm animal aquaculture species, a third-degree felony.
Novak said it took him 2 ½ years to place the rock in the 20 feet of water.
The rock -- a high quality Florida aquifer rock that looks like Swiss cheese -- was acquired from a Homestead quarry. He bought a flatbed truck to transport the rock and a special boat designed to hold the large amount of weight. The boat also contained two salt water holding tanks to transport the live rock.
When taken from the quarry, the rock is light yellow, white or brown. After three to five years in the clear, mostly nutrient-free water off Islamorada, the rocks turn purple and are full of life.
''Coralline algae, feather dusters, sponges -- all kinds of life grow on them,'' Novak said.
The last time he checked on the aqua farm was about 1 ½ years ago, when he took a sample.
''I should have checked on them more, but I had to care for my parents,'' he said.
In the meantime, he set up his home for the sale of the live rock, purchasing five tanks that could hold a total of 1,400 gallons of salt water. He planned to sell the harvest on the Internet or to pet stores and other aquarium suppliers.
Novak said he never thought anyone would steal 150 tons of submerged rock in an area used by recreational divers near about seven other aqua farms.
He discovered the theft May 13, when he and his wife made the trip to the aqua farm to begin the harvest. The rocks were not insured.
''About 30 to 50,000 pounds are left, basically just rubble left in the sand,'' he said. ``That's all I have left of five years of work. It's financially ruined me.''
Anyone with information about this case should contact FWC, the Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Tipsters may remain anonymous and may receive a reward if their information leads to an arrest. Tips can be submitted online at TipSubmit or called in to the Crime Stoppers hot line at 1-800-346-TIPS.
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