A Nigerian-flagged fishing vessel, the Star Shrimper XXV, allegedly fished actively without a license on March 13 in the West African waters of Liberia -- the most serious offense under Liberian fisheries regulations, reports The Maritime Executive. The offense can result in a fine up up to $1 million.

The Star Shrimper XXV -- reportedly part of a fleet owned by Atlantic Shrimpers and certified by the US Department of State -- was detected by radar off the waters of Cote d'Ivoire.

A Liberian coast guard boarding team mobilized on the Sea Shepherd vessel M/Y Bob Barker and headed toward the vessel, where it was reportedly fishing with trawl gear in the water.

Star Shrimper XXV's fleet is is Friend of the Sea certified for sustainable black tiger prawn fishing, but the guidelines require the vessels to comply with legal requirements and fishing permits.

"It is not without irony that while the Star Shrimper XXV had by-catch limitation devices like turtle excluder devices on board (which they were not using during the time of their arrest), they deliberately entered Liberian waters to fish illegally without a license,” Sea Shepherd campaign leader Peter Hammarstedt told the newspaper.

“Had it not been for the intervention of the Liberian coast guard and Sea Shepherd, the illegal catch of the Star Shrimper XXV would have been sold in American and European markets as ‘sustainably-certified’. Sea Shepherd Global urges the United States Department of State to seriously review their import agreement with Atlantic Shrimpers Limited.”