ATLANTIC BEACH — Seventeen young sea turtles have been released in the waters of the Atlantic off the North Carolina coast with the help of the Coast Guard.

The turtles were taken to sea Wednesday off Atlantic Beach.

Five of the turtles had been rehabilitated at the N.C. Aquarium and one had been treated at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

The other 11 turtles were had spent some time at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where scientists were studying the swimming patterns of turtles in relation to magnetic fields.