Endangered Species Act and Photography

This is not the kind of publicity wildlife and nature photographers need.

http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/osceola-county/wildlife-photographer-pleads-guilty-to-violating-endangered-species-act/24700816

This is disturbing. I continue to be disappointed in what some photographers will do to "get the shot".

Agreed Keith........maybe the $9k fine will stop or at least slow him down of thoughts on his next invasive adventure. I'm sure the threat of losing his boat and camera gear was another strong deterrent.

I'm of the opinion that a strong message should come out of this when he is sentenced. For some photographers ethics and legality don't matter, especially if they think they can get away with this kind of despicable behavior and still get "the shot". The penalties if they are exposed are often too light or not enforced aggressively. Personally, I believe that a sentence of more than just "probation" may be appropriate here (in addition to the 9K fine).

Jim used to be a member here and was posting regularly to NPN.

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=12287&CGISESSID=8c6c1f73663508295570b9b5ad539228&u=19676

I remember his time here well, Charlie. I ran into him out at Farmington a few years ago.

Very disturbing story. Makes me wonder how many other big name photographers and workshop leaders are similarly unethical. And makes me grateful for those folks here and elsewhere who set a higher standard.

actually, using the word unethical understates the point here--his actions were criminal, not just unethical....

Wow, some people just don't get it. Sad.

Not a good image for us at all, Keith. This kind of thing happens far too often.

Greed or ego, maybe both. Hard enough to put up with the masses of people who don't value and respect Nature and then to hear about somebody who certainly knows better.

Some of the comments after the article are just as disturbing as the act itself! Thanks for sharing, Keith. Sharon

Some of the comments after the article are just as disturbing as the act itself!

I went back to the linked article and saw what you're talking about Sharon. Some pretty wild comments and many way off the subject.

You have to be pretty egregious to get law enforcement after you. This certainly makes you look at the photo Charlie linked to in a different way.

Thank you for posting this link. Very disturbing story and some of the comments also.

This may be an ignorant question but where do I find the "stay back distance" for each endangered species?