Known for employing militant environmentalist and animal liberation tactics, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is engages in life-threatening actions to stop lawful whaling, fishing, and hunting activities. The Society’s violent actions have included “ramming ships, fouling props, firing illegal high-powered laser devices, and firing projectiles containing butyric acid” at people populating whaling ships. In 2009 the group was designated as “eco-terrorists” by the Japanese government.