Jamaica
Americas · Caribbean
Recreational spearfishing is legal in Jamaica but heavily restricted. A valid fishing licence/registration from the National Fisheries Authority is required (the Fisheries Act, 2018 mandates licences for recreational fishing). Spearfishing with impaling devices (spearguns, Hawaiian slings) is prohibited at night, between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010 (government-funded replacement with Hawaiian slings) and night diving for spearfishing was banned from the same date; a special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical underwater-breathing devices used for fishing. All fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited inside designated Special Fishery Conservation Areas (fish sanctuaries) and marine parks (e.g. Montego Bay Marine Park) except under licence/permission. Closed seasons apply to spiny lobster (Apr 1 – Jun 30) and queen conch (declared annually). Spearfishing is widely cited as the single greatest threat to Jamaica's marine biodiversity.
Naposledy aktualizováno Duben 22, 2026
Řídící rámec
- §The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018)
- §The Fishing Industry Act, 1975 (largely repealed/replaced by the 2018 Act)
- §The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
- §The Fisheries (Spiny Lobster) Regulations and amendments (2009, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2026)
- §The Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023
- Povolení povinné
- Povinné
- Harpuna
- Povoleno
Zákon doslova
Právní texty
Přesná zákonná a regulační ustanovení upravující harpunový rybolov zde, citovaná tak, jak byla zveřejněna, s odkazem na každý oficiální zdroj.
Fishing prohibited in Special Fishery Conservation Areas except under licence
The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
No person shall fish in a special fishery conservation area except in accordance with a license issued by the Licensing Authority.
Ban on use of impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling) at night
Fishing Industry Act amendment (2011) / Fishing Industry Regulations
A person shall not, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. use for the purpose of harvesting fish, any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device.
Kdy se můžete potápět
Sezóny a časová omezení
Uzavřená, otevřená a omezená období v průběhu roku. Místní uzavření pro konkrétní druhy vždy ověřte.
- UzavřenoSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - all species of spiny lobsterDub 1 – Čvn 30
Annual closed season for spiny lobster. Fishing for any species of spiny lobster during the closed season is illegal; possession without special permission is also illegal during this period.
- UzavřenoQueen conch (Strombus / Aliger gigas, Family Strombidae)Srp 30 – Úno 28
Annual queen conch closed season (dates as cited for the 2023 regulations; declared/varied annually by the National Fisheries Authority). During the closed season it is illegal to possess, sell, process or trade any conch products or by-products, under the Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023.
Povolení k rybolovu
Povolení
Co potřebujete k legálnímu vstupu do vody, kolik to stojí a jak to získat.
Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
Získejte povoleníOtevře oficiální portál · fisheries.gov.jm
- Typ
- Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational fishing licence under the Fisheries Act, 2018; spearfishers must hold a valid fishing licence)
- Cena
- unknown
- Platnost
- Renewed annually
- Jak získat
- Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
- Úřad
- National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
Vybavení a technika
Pravidla pro vybavení
Jaké vybavení je povoleno, jak se smí používat a jaké jsou podmínky.
Omezení
- Impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling or any other impaling device) may not be used to harvest fish between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (night spearfishing ban).
- Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010, with a government programme replacing them with Hawaiian slings.
- Night diving for spearfishing was banned effective 31 March 2010.
- A special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical devices used for underwater-breathing purposes for fishing (effective 31 March 2010).
- Zero tolerance for fishing with dynamite, bleach or other toxic substances.
Spearfishing remains legal by day under licence using permitted gear (notably Hawaiian slings). The legal status of mechanical/band spearguns is restrictive: the government ran a buy-back/replacement programme favouring Hawaiian slings, and night use of any impaling device is prohibited.
Co smíte ulovit
Limity úlovků a chráněné druhy
Denní kvóty, minimální velikosti a druhy, které nesmíte nikdy lovit.
Denní limit
unknown
Chráněné druhy — neulovit
- ChráněnoSpiny lobster (closed season Apr 1 - Jun 30; minimum size and no berried/egg-bearing females under lobster regulations)
- ChráněnoQueen conch (Family Strombidae - annual closed season; possession/sale/processing restricted)
- ChráněnoMarine turtles and corals are protected under wildlife/environmental law
Parrotfish are heavily advocated for protection and are key reef grazers, but as of the cited reporting they are not nationally banned. Targeting lobster or conch out of season, or undersized, is illegal regardless of method.
Kdo smí rybařit
Návštěvníci a rezidenti
Jak se pravidla liší pro zahraniční návštěvníky a místní rezidenty.
Zahraniční návštěvníci
Požadavky
- Same licensing/registration framework applies; a valid fishing licence from the National Fisheries Authority is required to spearfish.
- Permission/letter required to fish within marine parks such as Montego Bay Marine Park.
Omezení
- All national restrictions apply equally: no night spearfishing with impaling devices, no fishing in Special Fishery Conservation Areas/marine parks without a licence, closed seasons for lobster and conch.
No specific foreigner/tourist spearfishing regime was confirmed in authoritative sources. Tourists are generally expected to fish via licensed charters and are barred from sanctuaries and marine parks; independent confirmation from the NFA is recommended before spearfishing as a visitor.
Rezidenti
Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational or commercial) via the National Fisheries Authority
Požadavky
- Register as a fisher and licence the vessel (commercial or recreational) with the Fisheries Division / NFA.
- Hold a valid annually-renewed fishing licence to spearfish.
The Fisheries Act, 2018 exempts persons fishing from a pond on private property and persons using a fishing line from the seashore from licensing - this exemption does not cover spearfishing.
Kde na pobřeží
Povolené a zakázané zóny
Pojmenované oblasti, které jsou otevřeny nebo uzavřeny pro harpunový rybolov. Celkový obraz zobrazte na interaktivní mapě.
Zakázané oblasti
- Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; all fishing including spearfishing prohibited except under licence (Reg. 4(1)).
- Bogue Island Lagoon Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. James; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Montego Bay Point Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / marine park
Fish sanctuary in St. James near Montego Bay; fishing prohibited except under licence. Spearfishing is also prohibited within the Montego Bay Marine Park; a permission letter from the authorities is required to fish there.
- Oracabessa Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Mary; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Sandals Boscobel Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Mary; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Discovery Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Ann (Discovery Bay Lagoon); fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Galleon Harbour Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in the Old Harbour Bay / Portland Bight area, St. Catherine; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Galleon (St. Elizabeth) Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Elizabeth; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Three Bays Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in the Old Harbour Bay / Portland Bight area, St. Catherine; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Salt Harbour Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Clarendon; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Orange Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Sandals Whitehouse Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Port Morant Harbour Lagoon Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Thomas; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- South West Cay (Pedro Bank) Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary at the Pedro Bank/Cays offshore; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- East Portland Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / no-take fish sanctuary
No-take fish sanctuary on the northeast coast of Portland, legally gazetted in 2016 under the Fishing Industry Act, managed by the Alligator Head Foundation. Spans ~6 km2 of coastal waters from Folly (west) to Dragon Bay (east), covering coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and deep-water habitat. No fishing (including spearfishing) is permitted.
Podmínky na vodě
Živé podmínky
Živý snímek mořských a meteorologických podmínek u pobřežního referenčního bodu v Jamaica od Open-Meteo. Podmínky se podél pobřeží liší — berte jako orientační.
Živé mořské podmínky a počasí u Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area.
Koho se zeptat
Úřady
Oficiální orgány odpovědné za rybolov a vydávání povolení.
National Fisheries Authority (NFA)
fisheries authority
fisheries.gov.jm+1 876 948 9014; fisheries@nfa.gov.jmMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
government ministry
Maritime Authority of Jamaica
maritime authority
Odkud to pochází
Zdroje
Každé tvrzení na této stránce se opírá o jeden z těchto zdrojů.
- [01]
The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018) - full text PDF (scanned)
Oficiálnífisheries.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [02]
The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012 - Jamaica Trade Information Portal
Oficiálníjamaicatradeportal.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [03]
Legislation - National Fisheries Authority
Oficiálnífisheries.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [04]
Ban on Mechanical Guns Used for Fishing - Jamaica Information Service
Oficiálníjis.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [05]
Jamaica passes new Fisheries Act - FAO
Oficiálnífao.orgPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [06]
Annual Lobster Closed Season April 1 - June 30 - Jamaica Information Service
Oficiálníjis.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [07]
No Changes to Existing Conch Close Season Regulations - Jamaica Information Service
Oficiálníjis.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [08]
Online Licensing and Registration (IrieFINS) - National Fisheries Authority
Oficiálnífisheries.gov.jmPřístup získán Čvn 14 - [09]
Hold the spear - Government pushed to implement new Fisheries Act - Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14)
Sekundárníjamaica-gleaner.comPřístup získán Čvn 14
Poznámky výzkumníka
Spearfishing in Jamaica is legal but restricted, governed primarily by the Fisheries Act, 2018 (which replaced the Fishing Industry Act, 1975 in October 2018) and subsidiary regulations. Confidence is MEDIUM rather than high because the official Fisheries Act 2018 PDF on the NFA site is a scanned/image-only document (JBIG2) that could not be machine-read to extract verbatim spearfishing/equipment sections; the verbatim night-impaling-device clause ('between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. ... any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device') is sourced from the Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14) which reported the Fishing Industry Act amendment, and the direct article URL returned HTTP 404 on access (text retrieved via search index); it should be re-verified against the consolidated statute. The verbatim Special Fishery Conservation Area Regulations 2012 Reg. 4(1) text and the 14 named conservation areas were retrieved from the official Jamaica Trade Information Portal. Coordinates for sanctuaries are approximate (town/bay level) and should be treated as indicative. The 2012 regulations list 14 Special Fishery Conservation Areas; media report a higher figure (18) including later additions - 13 named prohibited zones are listed here from the official regulation (Galleon appears twice in the source - as St. Elizabeth and as Galleon Harbour). License cost and daily/size catch limits specific to spearfishing were not confirmed in authoritative sources and are marked unknown.
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