The man busted for swiping a shark from the San Antonio Aquarium and sneaking it outside in a stroller claims he’s not a crook — just a well-meaning marine life activist.

“I’m an activist, not a criminal,” Anthony Shannon told local TV-station KENS in an interview from his home, which has three saltwater tanks filled with five sharks and dozens of other fish.

Shannon, 38, is charged with felony theft for reaching into a tank and removing a 16-inch-long horn shark named Miss Helen on Saturday. Leon Valley police say the sea life enthusiast confessed to the crime after the shark was found in his home Monday night.

“It was wrong to just take him like that. But, at that point in time, it was just something I had to do,” he told the station.

Shannon, 38, said he’s a lifelong marine lover with 30 years of experience taking care of sea creatures, who became concerned about conditions at the aquarium when a friend told him animals there were dying frequently.

About a month ago, he posed as a salt distributor so he could investigate the conditions and take water samples from the tanks, he said.

The aquarium confirmed Shannon’s stunt, saying in a statement that they had no reason to doubt his story about being an employee at Instant Ocean, a saltwater aquarium fish supply company.

At least until they recognized him on security camera footage showing the shark heist.

On Saturday, Shannon said, he visited the aquarium and sat for an hour as children and families played — and claims he intervened when he saw a guest squeeze the shark.

“It’s regretful to do something like that, but if it’s an emergency for an animal, then no, it’s not,” Shannon said.

The aquarium said all their animals are well taken care of and that Miss Helen is still recovering following the caper.

“We appreciate all of the love and support everyone has shown for Helen and invite everyone to come see her when she’s back on exhibit,” their statement said.