Kemp's ridley sea turtle: Hillsborough Bay fisherman wanted to cook and eat rare 15-pound turtle

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — A rare sea turtle that a Florida fisherman wanted to cook and eat has been released back into the wild.

Officials at The Florida Aquarium say the fisherman snagged the Kemp's ridley sea turtle in May. Instead of releasing it back into Hillsborough Bay, he put the 15-pound juvenile turtle in a tank in his Tampa backyard.

Aquarium official Susan Coy tells The Tampa Tribune that the fisherman planned to cook and eat the endangered species, but a neighbor reported him to authorities.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse says the fisherman told investigators that he didn't know he had captured a protected sea turtle.

The turtle dubbed "Lucky" was rehabilitated at the aquarium until Wednesday, when it was released back into the wild.