Ecuador
Americas · South America
Recreational/sport spearfishing with a speargun (arpon) is legal in Ecuadorian jurisdictional waters but is a regulated extractive activity. Under Article 124 of the Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (2020), sport fishing for marine or freshwater fish in the extractive phase with a harpoon is permitted only with prior authorization and registration before the governing authority (Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca / MAGP). The authority sets gear, species, minimum sizes, areas, seasons and catch limits. In the Galapagos Marine Reserve a far stricter special regime applies: extractive fishing is reserved exclusively to registered local artisanal fishers (PARMA licence, restricted to permanent Galapagos residents), industrial fishing and fishing from tourist vessels are banned, and recreational spearfishing by tourists is not permitted. Directed take of sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs is prohibited nationwide.
Última actualització Juny 14, 2026
Marc normatiu aplicable
- §Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (Registro Oficial Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)
- §Reglamento General a la Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (Decreto Ejecutivo No. 362, 2022)
- §Ley Organica de Regimen Especial para la Conservacion y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Provincia de Galapagos (LOREG, 2015)
- §Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos
- Llicència obligatòria
- Obligatori
- Fusell
- Permès
- Estrangers
- Benvingut
La llei, literalment
Textos legals
Les disposicions legals i reglamentàries exactes que regulen la pesca submarina aquí, citades tal com es publiquen, amb un enllaç a cada font oficial.
Sport or recreational fishing; spearfishing with harpoon requires authorization
Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)
Articulo 124.- Pesca deportiva o de recreacion. El ente rector autorizara la actividad de pesca deportiva o recreativa y podra realizarse en las aguas jurisdiccionales ecuatorianas, para lo cual establecera las medidas especificas para su ordenamiento, como son: artes de pesca, especies, tallas minimas de captura, areas, epocas de pesca y limites de captura en coordinacion con otras instituciones del sector publico. [...] La pesca deportiva para peces de agua dulce o marina en fase extractiva con arpon, sera permitida previa autorizacion y registro ante el ente rector. Las normas y demas requisitos para el desarrollo de esta actividad se estableceran en el reglamento de la presente Ley, en concordancia con las normas internacionales expedidas por los organismos competentes de los cuales el Ecuador es miembro.
Recreational/sport fishing inside the National System of Protected Areas
Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)
Articulo 127.- Medidas especificas. La pesca recreativa o deportiva podra realizarse en las aguas jurisdiccionales ecuatorianas, para lo cual el ente rector podra establecer medidas especificas para su ordenamiento, en el marco de gobernanza. La Autoridad Ambiental Nacional en coordinacion con las autoridades competentes, regulara las actividades de pesca recreativa o deportiva dentro del Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas, de conformidad con los planes de manejo y la zonificacion de cada area y siempre que sean compatibles con sus objetivos de conservacion.
Prohibited fishing methods in the species-reproduction reserve zone
Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)
Articulo 103.- Prohibiciones en zona de reserva. En la zona de reserva de reproduccion de las especies bioacuaticas, se prohibe: a) Toda actividad pesquera industrial; b) Operacion extractiva con todo tipo de artes de captura masiva determinados por el ente rector previo informe del Instituto Publico de Investigacion de Acuicultura y Pesca; c) Uso de la red de monofilamento o tambien denominada electronica; d) Uso de mallas larveras; e) Uso de explosivos y compuestos quimicos (naturales o sinteticos), para la captura de los diferentes recursos hidrobiologicos existentes; y, f) Otras que se establezcan en el Reglamento de la presente Ley, sustentado tecnicamente.
National prohibition on directed take of sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs
Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)
Articulo 152.- Tiburones y especies afines. Se prohibe la pesca dirigida de tiburones, mantas y otros elasmobranquios que el ente rector determine, asi como, la fabricacion, transporte, importacion, comercializacion de artes de pesca utilizados para capturar estos recursos, la mutilacion de las aletas de tiburon y el descarte de su cuerpo al mar, la importacion, transbordo e internacion de tiburones enteros o aletas de tiburon en cualquier estado de conservacion o procesamiento, aun cuando hayan sido capturados en aguas internacionales.
Galapagos Marine Reserve - artisanal fishing only; ban on fishing from tourist vessels
Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos (consolidated text, FAOLEX ecu112351)
Art. 3.- PESCA ARTESANAL EN GALAPAGOS: Es aquella actividad pesquera destinada a la captura, extraccion y recoleccion de recursos vivos acuaticos, ejercida por pescadores artesanales autorizados y registrados por la DPNG, utilizando metodos, modalidades, aparejos de pesca y embarcaciones artesanales autorizadas o reguladas por este reglamento y cuyo producto se destina al autoconsumo o el uso comercial. En la RMG esta prohibida expresamente la pesca industrial y la pesca desde embarcaciones de turismo, con excepcion de las embarcaciones de turismo con autorizacion para ejercer pesca deportiva. En la RMG esta permitida la pesca de investigacion debidamente justificada y autorizada por la DPNG, en la cual se promovera la participacion del sector pesquero.
Galapagos - underwater (spearfishing/diving) fishing requires DIGMER licence
Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos (consolidated text, FAOLEX ecu112351)
Art. 11.- Es la autorizacion que la DPNG concede al pescador artesanal y al armador pesquero artesanal, para que emprenda actividades de pesca artesanal permitidas por la LOREG, el RG, las disposiciones de este reglamento y el PRMG. La Licencia PARMA en la RMG sera concedida solamente para las actividades de pesca autorizadas, dentro de las zonas, condiciones, temporadas y demas reglas determinadas en este Reglamento y por la AIM, de acuerdo con los estudios tecnicos realizados por la DPNG. Para realizar actividades de pesca submarinas se requerira de una matricula otorgada por la DIGMER que acredite su idoneidad tecnica.
Quan podeu bussejar
Temporades i restriccions horàries
Períodes tancats, oberts i restringits al llarg de l'any. Confirmeu sempre localment els tancaments per espècie.
- RestringitAll extractive fishing including sport spearfishing - species closed seasons (vedas)varies – varies
Under Art. 124 and Art. 125(c), sport/recreational fishers must respect species, areas and seasons (epocas de pesca) set by the governing authority. Ecuador operates species-specific closed seasons (vedas), e.g. for spiny lobster and sea cucumber. Exact dates are fixed by Ministerial Agreement and change periodically; verify current vedas with the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca before fishing.
Permís per pescar
Llicència
Què necessiteu per poder estar a l'aigua, quant costa i com obtenir-ho.
Apply to the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca / Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP) for authorization and registration to practice extractive sport fishing with a harpoon (Art. 124). Sport-fishing vessel permits are requested online via the SIAP system (https://siap.aciis.services/acrm/) with cedula/RUC, naval registration, tonnage certificate, safety inspection and proof of payment. In Galapagos, only registered resident artisanal fishers may obtain a PARMA licence from the DPNG plus a DIGMER diving matricula for underwater fishing.
Obteniu la vostra llicènciaObre el portal oficial · gob.ec
- Tipus
- Prior authorization and registration for sport/recreational spearfishing with harpoon (Art. 124); permiso de pesca para embarcacion deportiva for sport-fishing vessels; PARMA licence + DIGMER matricula for underwater artisanal fishing in Galapagos
- Cost
- unknown (vessel sport-fishing permit fees per the MAGP/Acuacultura y Pesca tarifario; no fixed published figure for individual harpoon authorization)
- Validesa
- Sport-fishing vessel permit: 1 year
- Com obtenir-la
- Apply to the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca / Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP) for authorization and registration to practice extractive sport fishing with a harpoon (Art. 124). Sport-fishing vessel permits are requested online via the SIAP system (https://siap.aciis.services/acrm/) with cedula/RUC, naval registration, tonnage certificate, safety inspection and proof of payment. In Galapagos, only registered resident artisanal fishers may obtain a PARMA licence from the DPNG plus a DIGMER diving matricula for underwater fishing.
- Autoritat
- Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP); Direccion del Parque Nacional Galapagos (DPNG) for Galapagos
Equip i tècnica
Normes d'equipament
Quin equip és permès, com s'ha d'utilitzar i les condicions aplicables.
Restriccions
- Harpoon (arpon) spearfishing for marine or freshwater fish in the extractive phase is permitted only with prior authorization and registration before the governing authority (Art. 124).
- Only gear, devices and fishing methods authorized by the governing authority may be used (Art. 125 e).
- Explosives, chemical compounds, mass-capture gear, monofilament/electronic nets and larval nets are prohibited in the reproduction reserve zone (Art. 103).
- In Galapagos, underwater fishing requires a DIGMER matricula certifying technical fitness (Art. 11).
The Ley itself authorizes spearfishing with arpon (Art. 124); detailed technical rules (e.g. scuba vs free-diving, number of spears) are to be set in the implementing Reglamento and Ministerial Agreements, which were not retrieved at the level of harpoon-specific gear detail. Confirm current technical conditions with the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca.
Què podeu capturar
Límits de captures i espècies protegides
Quotes diàries, mides mínimes i espècies que mai no es poden capturar.
Límit diari
Set by the governing authority per Art. 124 (limites de captura); no single national figure for sport spearfishing was retrieved.
Espècies protegides — no capturar
- ProtegitSharks (tiburones) - directed take prohibited (Art. 152)
- ProtegitManta rays (mantas) - directed take prohibited (Art. 152)
- ProtegitOther elasmobranchs determined by the governing authority (Art. 152)
- ProtegitMarine fauna listed under Art. 153 and environmental/CITES instruments
Sport/recreational fishers must catch only permitted species in the zones and periods set by the authority and respect minimum capture sizes (Art. 124, Art. 125 c). Directed take of sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs is prohibited nationwide (Art. 152). Specific minimum sizes and daily bag limits are fixed by Ministerial Agreement and were not retrieved as verbatim figures.
Qui pot pescar
Visitants i residents
Com difereixen les normes per als visitants estrangers i els residents locals.
Visitants estrangers
PermèsCal llicència especial
Requisits
- Obtain prior authorization and registration for extractive harpoon sport fishing from the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca (Art. 124).
- Sport-fishing typically conducted from authorized sport-fishing vessels holding a permiso de pesca para embarcacion deportiva.
Restriccions
- In the Galapagos Marine Reserve, extractive fishing (including the artisanal PARMA licence) is reserved to permanent Galapagos residents only; tourists/foreigners cannot spearfish there.
- Galapagos National Park: fishing only on GNPD-authorized recreational tour boats; recreational spearfishing not permitted.
Nationality is not a stated bar to sport spearfishing on the mainland coast, but the activity is authorization-based; the Galapagos special regime effectively excludes non-resident extractive fishing.
Residents
Galapagos: Licencia PARMA (artisanal fishing permit) granted by the DPNG, plus DIGMER diving matricula for underwater fishing; mainland: authorization/registration for sport fishing with harpoon (Art. 124)
Requisits
- Galapagos PARMA: be a permanent resident of the Province of Galapagos and affiliated to a legally constituted artisanal fishers' cooperative; appear in the Registry of Artisanal Fishers of Galapagos; hold a DIGMER diving matricula to fish underwater (Arts. 4, 11, 12).
Avantatges
- Galapagos permanent residents (registered artisanal fishers) hold exclusive extractive fishing rights within the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
On the continental coast there is no general residency requirement for sport spearfishing beyond the Art. 124 authorization; in Galapagos extractive fishing is limited to resident artisanal fishers.
On a la costa
Zones permeses i prohibides
Àrees nominades obertes o tancades per a la pesca submarina. Veieu el panorama complet al mapa interactiu.
Àrees permeses
Sport/recreational spearfishing with a harpoon is permitted in Ecuadorian jurisdictional waters (aguas jurisdiccionales ecuatorianas) subject to prior authorization and registration with the governing authority, and to gear/species/size/area/season/catch limits set under Art. 124. Activity inside the species-reproduction reserve zone (1 nautical mile from the low-water line along the continental coast, Art. 102) and the artisanal fishing zone (8 nautical miles, Art. 104) is subject to additional restrictions and bans on industrial and mass-capture gear (Art. 103).
Prior authorization and registration required; comply with authorized gear, permitted species, minimum sizes, designated areas, open seasons and catch limits; respect protected-species bans (sharks/rays/elasmobranchs).
Àrees prohibides
- Galapagos Marine Reservemarine reserve
Marine protected area of approximately 143,000 km2 extending 40 nautical miles from the archipelago baseline (plus internal waters). Extractive fishing is reserved exclusively to registered local artisanal fishers (PARMA licence, restricted to permanent Galapagos residents). Industrial fishing and fishing from tourist vessels are banned; recreational spearfishing by tourists/non-residents is not permitted. Underwater (diving) extractive fishing by licensed artisanal fishers additionally requires a DIGMER matricula.
- Galapagos National Parknational park
Galapagos National Park rules: fishing is only permitted on recreational tour boats authorized by the GNPD; motorized aquatic sports, mini-subs and aerial tourism activities are not permitted. Recreational spearfishing is not permitted within the park or the marine reserve.
- Species-reproduction reserve zone (1 nautical mile, continental coast)reproduction reserve zone
Zone from the low-water line along Ecuador's continental coast extending at least 1 nautical mile seaward (Art. 102), set aside for reproduction of hydrobiological species. Industrial fishing, mass-capture gear, monofilament/electronic nets, larval nets, explosives and chemical compounds are prohibited (Art. 103).
- Reserva Marina Galera-San Franciscomarine reserve
Largest marine protected area on continental Ecuador (~54,604 ha / 546.89 km2) off Cabo San Francisco, Esmeraldas province, between Atacames and Mompiche, extending up to 10 nautical miles offshore. Part of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP); recreational/sport fishing inside the SNAP is regulated under Art. 127 per each area's management plan and zoning, and extractive use is restricted/prohibited in its no-take and conservation zones. Spearfishing not permitted without specific authorization compatible with conservation objectives.
- Reserva Marina El Pelado (REMAPE)marine reserve
Marine reserve protecting Islote El Pelado and surrounding rocky reefs/coral patches off Ayangue, Santa Elena province (~96 ha terrestrial + 13,005 ha marine), between Valdivia and Palmar. Part of the SNAP; extractive fishing is restricted/prohibited within the reserve and recreational fishing inside the protected area is governed by the area's management plan and zoning (Art. 127). A major dive/snorkel site where spearfishing is not permitted.
- Parque Nacional Machalilla (marine area)national park
Ecuador's only coastal national park, Manabi province near Puerto Lopez, protecting dry tropical forest, marine ecosystems and offshore islands (Isla de la Plata, Islote Salango). Visitors are prohibited from extracting/disturbing marine resources; as part of the SNAP, extractive sport fishing inside the park is restricted under Art. 127 to be compatible with conservation objectives and zoning. Spearfishing is not permitted within the park's marine zone.
Marine-coastal fauna production reserve (52,231 ha marine + 203 ha terrestrial) at the westernmost point of continental Ecuador (La Chocolatera / Punta Santa Elena), Salinas, Santa Elena province, created 23 Sept 2008. Part of the SNAP and important for recovery of overfished stocks; extractive use is regulated and recreational/sport fishing inside is restricted under each area's management plan and zoning (Art. 127). Spearfishing not permitted without specific compatible authorization.
- Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Santa Claramarine reserve
Wildlife refuge on a small rocky island at the mouth of the Gulf of Guayaquil (~0.46 km2, Ramsar/WDPA ref 1142), designated 2 Feb 2002 (also called Isla del Muerto / Amortajado). Part of the SNAP and an important seabird/sea lion nesting site; extractive activities including sport spearfishing are restricted/prohibited within the refuge and its surrounding waters under SNAP rules (Art. 127).
Condicions a l'aigua
Condicions en directe
Instantània marina i meteorològica en directe prop d'un punt de referència costaner de Ecuador, de Open-Meteo. Les condicions varien al llarg de la costa — tracteu-ho com a indicatiu.
Marina i meteorologia en directe prop de Galapagos Marine Reserve.
A qui preguntar
Autoritats
Els organismes oficials responsables de la pesca i les llicències.
Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca (Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca - MAGP)
fisheries authority
Subsecretaria de Recursos Pesqueros
fisheries authority
Direccion del Parque Nacional Galapagos (DPNG)
protected area authority
Direccion General de la Marina Mercante (DIGMER) / Armada del Ecuador
maritime authority
Instituto Publico de Investigacion de Acuicultura y Pesca
research institute
D'on prové aquesta informació
Fonts
Cada afirmació d'aquesta pàgina es remunta a una d'aquestes referències.
- [01]
Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020) - official gob.ec PDF
Oficialgob.ecConsultat el Jun 14 - [02]
Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos (consolidated text)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultat el Jun 14 - [03]
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 362 - Reglamento General a la Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca
Oficialproduccion.gob.ecConsultat el Jun 14 - [04]
Solicitud de permiso de pesca para embarcacion deportiva - Guia Oficial de Tramites (gob.ec)
Oficialgob.ecConsultat el Jun 14 - [05]
Reserva Marina - Parque Nacional Galapagos (galapagos.gob.ec)
Oficialgalapagos.gob.ecConsultat el Jun 14 - [06]
Galapagos National Park Rules - Galapagos Conservancy
Secundarigalapagos.orgConsultat el Jun 14
Notes de l'investigador
Recreational spearfishing with a harpoon is explicitly authorized by Article 124 of the 2020 Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca, but only 'previa autorizacion y registro ante el ente rector' (with prior authorization and registration), hence the 'restricted' status. The governing authority (Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca/MAGP) sets gear, species, minimum sizes, areas, seasons and catch limits; detailed harpoon-specific technical rules and exact catch/size figures are delegated to the implementing Reglamento and Ministerial Agreements and were not retrieved as verbatim numeric values. The Galapagos Marine Reserve operates a separate, much stricter special regime (LOREG + artisanal fishing regulation): extractive fishing is exclusive to registered resident artisanal fishers, industrial fishing and fishing from tourist vessels are banned, and recreational spearfishing by tourists is not permitted. Sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs are protected nationwide (Art. 152). All law_texts excerpts are verbatim Spanish from the official gob.ec PDF and the FAOLEX consolidated Galapagos regulation; accents were normalized to ASCII for JSON safety but wording is otherwise unchanged. Closed-season (veda) dates and specific bag/size limits should be verified directly with the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca before fishing as they change by Ministerial Agreement.
Notifiqueu-me quan canviïn les normes de Ecuador
Us enviarem un correu quan les temporades o normatives de Ecuador s'actualitzin en el nostre conjunt de dades.