The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has received the highest military honor at the 62nd-anniversary celebration of Armed Forces Day in Monrovia.

Liberian President Dr. George Manneh Weah awarded Sea Shepherd the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) as a recognition of the charity’s ‘exceptional service to the Republic of Liberia’.

Sea Shepherd was honored for ‘the immense support and contribution in assisting the Liberian Coast Guard to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Liberia’.

Illegal fishing

Since 2017, Sea Shepherd has worked with Liberian authorities on joint at-sea patrols, resulting in the arrest of 14 fishing vessels for illegal fishing and other fisheries crimes.

Accepting the award on behalf of Sea Shepherd, its Director of Ship Operations, Peter Hammarstedt, said: “Liberia has emerged as a regional leader in the fight against illegal fishing and that is thanks to the visionary leadership of the Honorable Daniel D. Ziankahn Jr., Minister of National Defense, and Major General Prince Johnson III, Chief of Staff.”

‘Proud and humbled’

“I am proud and humbled to accept the award on behalf of the brave men and women of the Liberian Coast Guard and the passionate Sea Shepherd captains and crews who spent the past two years at-sea to bring poachers to justice on behalf of all Liberians,” Hammarstedt added.