US EditionTrump pardons 2 divers who freed 19 sharks off the coast of Florida
- In August 2020, two South Florida shark divers discovered a longline approximately three miles off Jupiter Inlet, where they released 19 sharks and a grouper before retrieving the fishing gear and bringing it ashore.
- They believed the longline was an illegal fishing setup, but it belonged to a NOAA-licensed fisherman authorized to catch sharks for research, leading to their theft charges and conviction in 2022.
- The men avoided prison but received felony convictions, one year probation, and restitution of $3,343.72 to the fisherman whose equipment was damaged, which blocked their voting, firearm ownership, and travel rights.
- President Donald Trump granted Moore and Mansell full and unconditional pardons on a Wednesday in 2025, with their attorneys calling the prosecution unjust and praising the White House decision.
- The pardons erased the convictions, restoring the divers' rights, and ended a legal battle viewed by their lawyers as government overreach despite the men’s honest intent to save sharks.
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The pardon is especially notable because Trump has a well-documented history of shark aversion
Trump pardons Florida divers convicted of stealing sharks · American Wire News
President Donald Trump has pardoned two men who were convicted of theft for doing what they believed was the right thing. John Moore Jr. was the captain of a shark-diving charter boat. Tanner Mansell was a crew member. In August 2020, the pair believed they spotted an illegal fishing operation and felt compelled to act in the best interest of the animals, freeing 19 sharks and one grouper. They reported the longline to state wildlife officials a…
Florida divers who freed sharks caught by NOAA vessel ‘extremely grateful’ for Trump pardon
Two South Florida shark divers who were convicted for cutting sharks and a goliath grouper free from what they believed was an illegal fishing longline expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for granting them a pardon. “Whether people believe in…
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