In today’s very special episode, I sit down with my partner, Tanner, to discuss how his attempt to save sharks and do the right thing nearly landed him in jail. We recorded this episode a week after learning that Tanner had been pardoned by President Donald Trump.

In August 2020, Tanner Mansell, a crew member on a shark-diving charter boat off the coast of Jupiter, Florida, came across a longline fishing setup approximately three miles offshore. Believing it to be part of an illegal operation, Tanner and the boat’s captain, John Moore, freed 19 sharks and a giant grouper that had been caught on the line. They reported the incident to state wildlife officials and brought the fishing gear back to shore.

Unbeknownst to them, the longline belonged to a licensed fisherman. As a result, federal prosecutors charged Mansell and Moore with theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction—a federal felony.

Book a trip with Tanner
https://www.tannerunderwater.com

And follow his social media, @tannerunderwater

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