Trump Grants Full Pardon to Florida Diver Convicted of Freeing 19 Sharks

Tanner Mansell, a Florida-based shark diver, was convicted in 2020 for theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction after unknowingly cutting a NOAA-approved longline and releasing 19 sharks and a giant grouper, believing he was stopping illegal fishing activity. Despite calling authorities before acting, Mansell and his partner John Moore Jr. faced fines, loss of voting rights, and travel restrictions, which hindered Mansell's conservation efforts. In May 2025, President Donald Trump granted Mansell and Moore full pardons, restoring their rights and clearing their records, a gesture Mansell described as deeply emotional and unexpected. The case drew attention after a U.S. Court of Appeals judge stated it should never have proceeded, highlighting Mansell's transparency with authorities. Mansell expressed renewed faith in the justice system and remains committed to shark conservation, hoping his case raises awareness about conflicts between commercial fisheries and shark diving tourism. His attorney emphasized that the men made an honest mistake while trying to protect marine life, and the pardon allows Mansell to continue his conservation work unimpeded.