Violent non-state actors at sea

Violent non-state actors at sea denominates all violent non-state actors that engage in naval, amphibious or littoral violence or warfare.

Violent non-state actors at sea may be veritable navies, such as the Sea Tigers, one of the most successful non-state navies in the 20th century,^[1][2] but it may also be other actors, such as pirates that take a navy-like role in the place of a failed state,^[3] or non-malicious actors such as Neptune's Navy. The latter is an example of a non-armed, violent non-state actor at sea, as they nevertheless have engaged in violence. Both Neptune's Navy and pirates are also examples of non-state actors whose role is a matter of perspective. Neptune's Navy believe themselves to be environmentalist, while the ICRW and the Japanese government has labeled them terrorists.^[4] Similarly, pirates off the coast of Somalia claim to be "freedom fighters" defending Somali waters from pollution and foreign access.^[3]