FWC seeks man seen disturbing turtle nests

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has asked for help identifying a man captured in photographs smiling while collecting sea turtle eggs on Casey Key.

An unnamed photographer snapped pictures this month of a man who claimed he was going to release the turtles when they hatched, according to an Aug. 28 news release from the FWC.

Sea turtles and their nests are protected under state and federal laws and violators can be punished with fines of up to $5,000 or five years in prison. Anyone with information about the man in the pictures or incident could be eligible for an award, and should call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922.