SpearfishingMap

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa · Middle Africa

There is no statute in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that specifically regulates recreational spearfishing or underwater fishing (chasse sous-marine). The fisheries sector is still governed by the colonial-era Decree of 21 April 1937 on fishing (decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche), under which fishing is generally permitted throughout the territory (Art. 57), subject to private-water rights (Art. 58) and customary indigenous fishing rights (Art. 59). The decree does not mention spearguns, harpoons, diving or underwater fishing, but it empowers the governor general and provincial authorities to prohibit certain fishing modes, traps or gear (Art. 65), to close seasons for chosen species (Art. 61) and to create reserves where fishing is wholly or partly prohibited (Art. 62); destroying spawn/fry and fishing in spawning grounds is prohibited (Art. 60). The DRC's only marine protected area, the Mangroves Marine Park / Parc Marin des Mangroves at Muanda (Kongo Central, Atlantic coast, est. 1992, Ramsar site 1996, managed by ICCN), restricts fishing to conservation-compatible traditional use. A modern framework law on fishing and aquaculture (proposition de loi portant principes fondamentaux relatifs a la peche et a l'aquaculture) was declared admissible by the National Assembly in May 2025 but was not yet promulgated as of mid-2025. Because spearfishing is neither explicitly authorised nor explicitly prohibited, and is potentially caught by general gear-restriction and protected-area powers, its status is classified as restricted/unclear.

Restricted
ثقة البياناتثقة منخفضة

آخر تحديث مايو 16, 2025

الإطار الحاكم

  • §Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche (Belgian Congo fishing decree, still in force; arts. 57-67)
  • §Decret du 12 juillet 1932 relatif aux concessions de peche (fishing concessions, referenced by art. 57)
  • §Loi n 14/003 du 11 fevrier 2014 relative a la conservation de la nature (nature conservation / protected areas)
  • §Proposition de loi portant principes fondamentaux relatifs a la peche et a l'aquaculture (declared admissible by National Assembly, May 2025; not yet promulgated)

القانون، حرفياً

النصوص القانونية

الأحكام القانونية والتنظيمية الدقيقة التي تحكم الصيد بالحربة هنا، مقتبسة كما نُشِرت، مع رابط لكل مصدر رسمي.

01Article 57Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Fishing generally permitted throughout the territory

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

La peche est permise sur tout le territoire du Congo belge, sans prejudice de l'application du decret du 12 juillet 1932 relatif aux concessions de peche et des exceptions prevues ci-apres.

02Article 58Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Fishing in waters belonging to others

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

Nul ne peut pecher dans les eaux qui appartiennent a autrui si le fonds dont elles dependent n'est greve d'un droit de peche a son profit, ou s'il n'y a consentement du proprietaire ou de ses ayants droit. N'appartiennent pas a autrui, aux termes du present decret, les eaux territoriales, lacs, etangs et cours d'eau dont le lit fait partie du domaine de l'Etat.

03Article 59Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Customary (indigenous) fishing rights and gear

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

Les indigenes exercent leurs droits traditionnels de peche, notamment au moyen de barrages, nasses et filets, dans la mesure fixee par la coutume et dans les limites de la circonscription, sous reserve des restrictions du present decret. Il est interdit de detruire ces installations. Toutefois, si elles entravent la navigation, provoquent l'envasement ou l'ensablement des cours d'eau, ou constituent un danger au point de vue sanitaire, l'administrateur territorial peut les faire modifier ou enlever.

04Article 60Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Protection of spawn, fry and spawning grounds

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

La destruction du frai et des alevins, ainsi que la peche dans les frayeres, sont interdites.

05Article 61Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Power to close fishing seasons by species and water body

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

Le gouverneur general et le commissaire provincial peuvent decider, par ordonnance ou arrete, la fermeture de la peche, dans certains cours d'eau, lacs ou etangs, pendant certaines periodes et pour les especes de poissons qu'ils determinent.

06Article 62Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Power to create fishing reserves where fishing is prohibited

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

Le gouverneur general et le commissaire provincial peuvent decider par ordonnance ou arrete que certaines eaux sont constituees en reserve ou la peche est prohibee partiellement ou totalement.

07Article 65Democratic Republic of the Congo · national

Power to set minimum mesh sizes and prohibit certain fishing methods, traps or gear

Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche

FRالأصل

Le gouverneur general et le commissaire provincial peuvent, par ordonnance ou arrete, determiner les dimensions minima que pourront avoir les mailles des filets, les mailles ou les interstices des nasses et prohiber l'emploi de certains modes, pieges ou engins de peche.

متى يمكنك الغوص

المواسم والقيود الزمنية

الفترات المغلقة والمفتوحة والمقيّدة على مدار العام. تأكّد دائماً من الإغلاقات الخاصة بكل نوع محلياً.

  • مغلقSpecies and water bodies designated by the governor general / provincial commissionerunknown – unknown

    No fixed national closed season exists. Under Article 61 of the 1937 decree, the governor general and provincial authorities may, by ordinance or order, close fishing in specified rivers, lakes or ponds for specified periods and species. Any specific closures are set locally and were not retrievable from a national source.

إذن الصيد

الترخيص

ما تحتاجه للسماح لك في الماء، وتكلفته، وكيفية الحصول عليه.

الترخيص: غير معروف — تحقّق محلياًعبر Ministry in charge of fisheries / provincial authorities; ICCN within protected areas

unknown

احصل على ترخيصك

يفتح البوّابة الرسمية · fao.org

النوع
unknown
التكلفة
unknown
مدّة الصلاحية
unknown
كيفية الحصول عليه
unknown
السلطة
Ministry in charge of fisheries / provincial authorities; ICCN within protected areas

المعدّات والأسلوب

قواعد المعدّات

ما المعدّات المسموح بها، وكيف يجوز استخدامها، والشروط المرتبطة بها.

القيود

  • No statute specifically addresses spearguns, harpoons or underwater/scuba fishing.
  • Under Article 65 of the 1937 fishing decree, authorities may prohibit the use of certain fishing modes, traps or gear and set minimum net mesh sizes.
  • Destruction of spawn/fry and fishing in spawning grounds is prohibited (Article 60).

Spearfishing gear is not named in DRC fisheries law. Whether a speargun is permitted in any given water depends on local ordinances/orders that may be issued under Article 65, which were not retrievable from a national source.

ما يجوز لك أخذه

حدود الصيد والأنواع المحمية

الحصص اليومية، والأحجام الدنيا، والأنواع التي يجب ألّا تُؤخذ أبداً.

الحدّ اليومي

unknown

أنواع محمية — لا تأخذها

  • محميAfrican manatee (Trichechus senegalensis)
  • محميMarine turtles: olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
  • محميHippopotamus and crocodiles (within the Mangroves Marine Park)

No general size or bag limits for spearfishing were found. Protected species listed are those protected within the Mangroves Marine Park and under nature-conservation law (Loi n 14/003 of 2014); their capture is prohibited regardless of method.

من يجوز له الصيد

الزوّار والمقيمون

كيف تختلف القواعد بين الزوّار الأجانب والمقيمين المحليين.

الزوّار الأجانب

No specific rules on spearfishing or recreational fishing by foreigners were found. General fishing is permitted under the 1937 decree but local authorisation and protected-area rules may apply; foreigners should confirm requirements with the provincial fisheries administration and, near the coast, with ICCN.

المقيمون

unknown

المزايا

  • Customary/traditional fishing rights are recognised for local (indigenous) communities under Article 59 of the 1937 decree (notably via barrages, traps and nets), within customary limits.

Customary fishing rights apply to local communities; these are traditional gear rights and do not specifically cover spearfishing.

أين على الساحل

المناطق المسموح بها والمحظورة

مناطق مسمّاة مفتوحة أو مغلقة للصيد بالحربة. شاهد الصورة الكاملة على الخريطة التفاعلية.

المناطق المحظورة

  • Parc Marin des Mangroves (Mangroves Marine / National Park), Muandamarine national park / Ramsar wetland reserve

    The DRC's only marine protected area, at the mouth of the Congo River on the Atlantic coast near Muanda/Banana, Kongo Central Province. Established 1992; designated a Ramsar wetland site on 18 January 1996 (Ramsar No. 788); IUCN Category II; covers about 768 km2 / 76,000 ha. Managed by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). Fishing is restricted to conservation-compatible traditional use; commercial/illegal fishing and disturbance of the natural environment are prohibited. Protected fauna include the African manatee, marine turtles (olive ridley, leatherback, green), hippopotamus and crocodiles. Spearfishing here would be subject to ICCN protected-area rules.

الظروف في الماء

ظروف مباشرة

لقطة بحرية وجوية مباشرة قرب نقطة مرجعية ساحلية في Democratic Republic of the Congo، من Open-Meteo. تتفاوت الظروف على طول الساحل — اعتبرها إرشادية.

ظروف بحرية وجوية مباشرة قرب Parc Marin des Mangroves (Mangroves Marine / National Park), Muanda.

الظروف

من تسأل

السلطات

الجهات الرسمية المسؤولة عن مصايد الأسماك والترخيص.

  • Ministere de la Peche et Elevage / Ministry in charge of Fisheries and Livestock

    fisheries authority

    fao.orgunknown
  • Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN)

    protected areas / nature conservation authority

    iccnrdc.cdunknown
  • Ministere de l'Environnement et Developpement Durable (MEDD)

    environment ministry

من أين أتى هذا

المصادر

كل ادّعاء في هذه الصفحة يعود إلى أحد هذه المراجع.

  1. [01]

    Decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche (full text, arts. 57-67)

    رسمي
    leganet.cdتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  2. [02]

    Decret du 21 avril 1937 portant regime de la chasse et de la peche - ECOLEX record

    رسمي
    ecolex.orgتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  3. [03]

    FAOLEX country profile - Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD)

    رسمي
    fao.orgتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  4. [04]

    Une loi-cadre sur la peche et l'aquaculture continentales en RDC - FAO publication

    رسمي
    fao.orgتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  5. [05]

    Assemblee nationale: adoption / recevabilite de la loi sur la peche et l'aquaculture (mai 2025) - Radio Okapi

    ثانوي
    radiookapi.netتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  6. [06]

    RDC : Une loi historique pour moderniser la peche et l'aquaculture voit le jour - Congo Quotidien

    ثانوي
    congoquotidien.comتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  7. [07]

    Mangroves National Park (Parc Marin des Mangroves) - Wikipedia (coordinates, status, species)

    ثانوي
    en.wikipedia.orgتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  8. [08]

    Parc Marin des Mangroves - official site

    رسمي
    parcmarindesmangroves.orgتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14
  9. [09]

    Le Parc Marin des Mangroves du Bas-Congo - FAO Africa

    رسمي
    fao.orgتم الاطّلاع يونيو 14

ملاحظات الباحث

The DRC has a short (~37 km) Atlantic coastline at Muanda/Banana but is overwhelmingly an inland (freshwater) fisheries country (Congo River, Lakes Tanganyika, Kivu, Edward, Albert, Mai-Ndombe, etc.). No DRC legal instrument was found that mentions spearfishing, underwater fishing, spearguns, harpoons or diving. The operative fisheries statute is the still-in-force colonial Decree of 21 April 1937, whose verbatim provisions (arts. 57-67) are captured above from leganet.cd (the principal Congolese legal database). Fishing is generally free (art. 57) but authorities may close seasons (art. 61), create reserves (art. 62) and prohibit specific gear/methods (art. 65); a speargun could therefore be banned locally without that ban being centrally published. The only marine protected area, the Mangroves Marine Park near Muanda (Ramsar site, ICCN-managed), restricts fishing. A modern framework law on fishing and aquaculture was declared admissible by the National Assembly in May 2025 but the full text was not retrievable and it was not yet promulgated; once enacted it may change this picture. data_confidence is set to 'low' and spearfishing_allowed to 'restricted' because, while real verbatim general fishing law was obtained, no source directly addresses spearfishing and several discretionary restriction powers and protected-area rules could apply. License, catch-limit, foreigner and resident specifics for spearfishing remain unknown.

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