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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, but it may also be other actors, such as pirates that take a navy-like role in the place of a failed state, 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. Similarly, pirates off the coast of Somalia claim to be "freedom fighters" defending Somali waters from pollution and foreign access.