SpearfishingMap

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.

Restricted
DatenverlässlichkeitMittlere Verlässlichkeit

Zuletzt aktualisiert April 22, 2026

Rechtsrahmen

  • §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  • §The Fishing Industry Act, 1975 (largely repealed/replaced by the 2018 Act)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
Lizenz erforderlich
Erforderlich
Harpune
Erlaubt

Das Gesetz, wortgetreu

Gesetzestexte

Die genauen gesetzlichen und behördlichen Bestimmungen, die das Speerfischen hier regeln, wie veröffentlicht zitiert, mit einem Link zu jeder offiziellen Quelle.

01Regulation 4(1)Jamaica · national

Fishing prohibited in Special Fishery Conservation Areas except under licence

The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012

ENOriginal

No person shall fish in a special fishery conservation area except in accordance with a license issued by the Licensing Authority.

02Amendment provision on impaling devicesJamaica · national

Ban on use of impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling) at night

Fishing Industry Act amendment (2011) / Fishing Industry Regulations

ENOriginal

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.

Wann du tauchen darfst

Saisonzeiten & zeitliche Einschränkungen

Schon-, Fang- und eingeschränkte Zeiten über das Jahr. Bestätige artspezifische Schonzeiten stets vor Ort.

Jan
Feb
Mär
Apr
Mai
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Okt
Nov
Dez
GeschlossenEingeschränktOffen
  • GeschlossenSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - all species of spiny lobsterApr 1 – Jun 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.

    jis.gov.jm
  • GeschlossenQueen conch (Strombus / Aliger gigas, Family Strombidae)Aug 30 – Feb 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.

    jis.gov.jm

Erlaubnis zum Fischen

Lizenz

Was du brauchst, um ins Wasser zu dürfen, was es kostet und wie du es bekommst.

Lizenz erforderlichüber National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining

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.

Hol dir deine Lizenz

Öffnet das offizielle Portal · fisheries.gov.jm

Lizenz erforderlich
Typ
Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational fishing licence under the Fisheries Act, 2018; spearfishers must hold a valid fishing licence)
Kosten
unknown
Gültigkeit
Renewed annually
Wie zu erhalten
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.
Behörde
National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
Offizielles Lizenzierungsportal · fisheries.gov.jm

Ausrüstung & Technik

Ausrüstungsregeln

Welche Ausrüstung erlaubt ist, wie sie verwendet werden darf und welche Auflagen gelten.

HarpuneErlaubt

Einschränkungen

  • 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.

Was du entnehmen darfst

Fangbeschränkungen & geschützte Arten

Tagesquoten, Mindestmaße und Arten, die niemals entnommen werden dürfen.

Tageslimit

unknown

Geschützte Arten — nicht entnehmen

  • GeschütztSpiny lobster (closed season Apr 1 - Jun 30; minimum size and no berried/egg-bearing females under lobster regulations)
  • GeschütztQueen conch (Family Strombidae - annual closed season; possession/sale/processing restricted)
  • GeschütztMarine 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.

Wer fischen darf

Besucher & Einheimische

Wie sich die Regeln für ausländische Besucher und einheimische Bewohner unterscheiden.

Ausländische Besucher

Anforderungen

  • 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.

Einschränkungen

  • 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.

Einheimische

Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational or commercial) via the National Fisheries Authority

Anforderungen

  • 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.

Wo an der Küste

Erlaubte & verbotene Zonen

Benannte Gebiete, die für das Speerfischen offen oder gesperrt sind. Das Gesamtbild siehst du auf der interaktiven Karte.

Verbotene Gebiete

Auf Karte ansehen

Bedingungen auf dem Wasser

Live-Bedingungen

Live-Momentaufnahme von Meer und Wetter nahe einem Küstenreferenzpunkt in Jamaica, von Open-Meteo. Die Bedingungen variieren entlang der Küste — als Richtwert betrachten.

Live-Meer & -Wetter nahe Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area.

Bedingungen

Wen man fragt

Behörden

Die offiziellen Stellen, die für Fischerei und Lizenzierung zuständig sind.

  • National Fisheries Authority (NFA)

    fisheries authority

    fisheries.gov.jm+1 876 948 9014; fisheries@nfa.gov.jm

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining

    government ministry

    new.moa.gov.jm

  • Maritime Authority of Jamaica

    maritime authority

    jeijamaica.gov.jm

Woher das stammt

Quellen

Jede Aussage auf dieser Seite lässt sich auf eine dieser Referenzen zurückführen.

  1. [01]

    The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018) - full text PDF (scanned)

    Offiziell
    fisheries.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  2. [02]

    The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012 - Jamaica Trade Information Portal

    Offiziell
    jamaicatradeportal.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  3. [03]

    Legislation - National Fisheries Authority

    Offiziell
    fisheries.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  4. [04]

    Ban on Mechanical Guns Used for Fishing - Jamaica Information Service

    Offiziell
    jis.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  5. [05]

    Jamaica passes new Fisheries Act - FAO

    Offiziell
    fao.orgAbgerufen Jun 14
  6. [06]

    Annual Lobster Closed Season April 1 - June 30 - Jamaica Information Service

    Offiziell
    jis.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  7. [07]

    No Changes to Existing Conch Close Season Regulations - Jamaica Information Service

    Offiziell
    jis.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  8. [08]

    Online Licensing and Registration (IrieFINS) - National Fisheries Authority

    Offiziell
    fisheries.gov.jmAbgerufen Jun 14
  9. [09]

    Hold the spear - Government pushed to implement new Fisheries Act - Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14)

    Sekundär
    jamaica-gleaner.comAbgerufen Jun 14

Anmerkungen des Rechercheurs

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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