The remains of a man found floating in the water near Sucia Island May 23 lie in the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office at Paine Field, awaiting identification.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in obtaining information that will help identify him.

A boater found the remains floating off Parker Reef, midway between Orcas and Sucia islands. The U.S. Coast Guard went to the scene, recovered the remains and took him to Friday Harbor to be turned over to the county coroner.

Prosecuting Attorney Randall K. Gaylord, who is also county coroner, arranged for the remains to be taken to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Foul play is not suspected.

“We have one good lead to help us identify this person,” Gaylord said in a press release. “We found a metal plate in the left forearm … (A) dentist has examined the teeth and, if we could obtain the dental records, we might be able to identify this person.”

Gaylord and Sheriff Bill Cumming have reviewed missing persons reports and have been in contact with officials from Sidney, B.C., and Bellingham. Cumming alerted jurisdictions that surround the Salish Sea, including British Columbia and mainland Washington state.

Gaylord said the man weighed about 170-185 pounds, was 5 feet 10 inches, and apparently Caucasian. The body had been in the water for at least a couple of weeks and, because of decomposition, there was no clothing, hair, marks, tattoos or other distinguishing features.

Anyone with information should call the San Juan County sheriff, undersheriff or duty detective at 378-4151.

The remains are one of two sets awaiting identification at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office. The other remains were found by a hiker on a remote beach west of Point Lawrence, on Orcas Island in March 2007.

Cumming said a piece of clothing — a possibly British-made argyle sock — indicate the Point Lawrence remains could be those of someone from Great Britain or Canada. He said he has notified Interpol — the International Criminal Police Organization, based in Lyon, France — but no leads have yet resulted.

A forensic anthropologist determined the remains were likely those of a man, about 5 feet 9 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, and likely white or of American Indian, First Nations or Asian ancestry. “The best information we have on this person’s identity is the unique gold inlay in the upper molars,” Gaylord said.