South Sudan
Africa · Eastern Africa
South Sudan is a landlocked country, so there is no marine spearfishing; the only relevant context is freshwater fishing in the White Nile, the Sudd wetland, and associated rivers and lakes. There is no spearfishing-specific legislation. The fishery is overwhelmingly artisanal and subsistence-based, and traditional gear such as spears, bows and arrows, traps and baskets has long been used. The governing statute is the colonial-era Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 (inherited from Sudan), whose legitimacy is itself described as doubtful in the country's own official policy document. A modern Fisheries Bill (drafted 2006, re-edited as the draft Fisheries Bill 2012) has not been enacted, and as of recent reporting the sector still suffers from a lack of an up-to-date legal framework. Under the 1954 Act, the Minister has regulation-making powers over closed seasons, prohibited areas and methods, and gear limitations, and licences are issued for fishing, sport fishing and sport-fishing clubs, but no provision specifically addresses recreational underwater (spear) fishing. Recreational spearfishing as a regulated activity is effectively undefined; legality is therefore best characterised as unknown.
Zuletzt aktualisiert Juni 15, 2026
Rechtsrahmen
- §Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 (inherited from Sudan; applies to freshwater rivers and lakes)
- §Draft Fisheries Bill 2012 (prepared 2006, re-edited 2012; NOT enacted)
- §Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016 (Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, policy document, not binding law)
- §Wild Life Conservation and National Parks Act 2003 (protected areas / national parks framework)
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.
Current Legislation - status of fisheries law in South Sudan
Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016 (citing the Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954)
The current legislation dates from the 1950s before the creation of the Republic of South Sudan and there is some doubt as to its legitimacy. It is contained in the Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 which applies to all freshwater rivers and lakes in such parts of Sudan as the Minister of Animal Resources may, from time to time, notify in the Official Gazette (sect. 2). It includes various clauses including that no person shall introduce non-indigenous species without a permit (sect. 4). Other provisions relate to use of gear (sects. 5-7), licences for boats (sect. 8) fishing licences (sect. 9), regulation making powers of the Minister (sect. 10) and offences (sect. 11).
Ministerial regulation-making powers under the draft Fisheries Bill (closed seasons, prohibited areas and methods, gear limits)
Draft Fisheries Bill 2012 (as described in the Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016)
This draft allows for the Director General to implement it and to impose regulations through the Gazette and the Minister on many things including:- Closed seasons; Prohibited areas and methods; Limitations on gears; Size age amount etc of fish caught; Regulate the landing of fish and management of landing areas; Control aquatic plants; Damming, blocking etc of rivers; To collaborate on irrigation schemes; To issue and refuse licenses; Registration of vessels; Use of explosives and illegal methods and The powers of authorised officers.
Licence types under the existing legislation
Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016 (describing licences under the Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 / draft Bill)
Licenses are issued for fishing, aquarium fish catching, sports fishing, fish processing (but no QC mentioned), fish trading, fish movement, culturing aquarium fish, export of aquarium fish, disposal of aquarium fish, import and export and sport fishing clubs.
Status of the draft Fisheries Bill - not enacted
Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016
A draft Fisheries Bill was prepared in 2006 and has now been re-edited as the draft Fisheries Bill 2012. The bill is based on a template from elsewhere, and has been adapted to the South Sudan, including some references to marine organisms of which there are none in South Sudan.
Wann du tauchen darfst
Saisonzeiten & zeitliche Einschränkungen
Schon-, Fang- und eingeschränkte Zeiten über das Jahr. Bestätige artspezifische Schonzeiten stets vor Ort.
- EingeschränktAll freshwater capture fisheries (no spearfishing-specific season exists)
No statutory closed season is currently in force for spearfishing or recreational fishing. Under the Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 and the draft Fisheries Bill 2012 the Minister has the power to declare closed seasons by notice in the Official Gazette, but no such generally applicable, currently effective closed season has been identified. Fishing is highly seasonal in practice, with about two-thirds of the catch taken during the rainy season (May to September).
Erlaubnis zum Fischen
Lizenz
Was du brauchst, um ins Wasser zu dürfen, was es kostet und wie du es bekommst.
Operational fishing licences are issued administratively by the Ministry (Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development); licence categories under the existing framework include fishing, sports fishing and sport fishing clubs. No dedicated spearfishing licence is defined.
Hol dir deine LizenzÖffnet das offizielle Portal · faolex.fao.org
- Typ
- Fishing licence / sport fishing licence (no spearfishing-specific licence exists)
- Kosten
- unknown
- Gültigkeit
- unknown
- Wie zu erhalten
- Operational fishing licences are issued administratively by the Ministry (Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development); licence categories under the existing framework include fishing, sports fishing and sport fishing clubs. No dedicated spearfishing licence is defined.
- Behörde
- Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (formerly Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries), Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development
Ausrüstung & Technik
Ausrüstungsregeln
Welche Ausrüstung erlaubt ist, wie sie verwendet werden darf und welche Auflagen gelten.
Einschränkungen
- Use of explosives and illegal fishing methods is prohibited under the existing/draft legislation
- The Minister has power to limit gears and prohibit certain methods and areas, but no specific rules on spearguns or recreational spears have been identified
Traditional fishing in South Sudan has long used spears, bows and arrows, fish barriers, traps, baskets and local canoes. These are subsistence/artisanal methods rather than regulated recreational spearfishing. The 1954 Act and the draft Fisheries Bill 2012 address gear use (sects. 5-7) and ban explosives and 'illegal methods', but contain no provisions specific to spearguns, freediving or recreational underwater hunting.
Was du entnehmen darfst
Fangbeschränkungen & geschützte Arten
Tagesquoten, Mindestmaße und Arten, die niemals entnommen werden dürfen.
Tageslimit
unknown
No published statutory daily bag limits or species size limits specific to recreational fishing or spearfishing have been identified. The draft Fisheries Bill 2012 would empower the Minister to regulate the 'size, age, amount etc of fish caught', but this is not enacted. Key commercial freshwater species in the Sudd include Nile perch (Lates niloticus), tilapias, catfishes (Clarias spp.), Distichodus spp., Gymnarchus spp., Heterotis spp. and Citharinus spp.
Wer fischen darf
Besucher & Einheimische
Wie sich die Regeln für ausländische Besucher und einheimische Bewohner unterscheiden.
Ausländische Besucher
No specific rules governing recreational spearfishing by foreigners have been identified. Sport fishing is offered by a small number of tour operators on the Nile and in the Sudd, but there is no clear regulatory regime for foreign recreational anglers or spearfishers. Security conditions and protected-area access are practical constraints.
Einheimische
Artisanal / subsistence freshwater fishing (customary and community-based)
Resident communities fish largely on a subsistence and artisanal basis under customary practice, using traditional gear including spears. There is no formal residents-vs-foreigners distinction in the published spearfishing rules because no spearfishing-specific regime exists.
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
- Sudd wetland (Ramsar Site No. 1622)Ramsar wetland of international importance
The Sudd is one of the world's largest tropical freshwater wetlands, formed by the White Nile between Malakal and Bor. The official policy document places it between 6 and 9 degrees 30 minutes N and 30 to 32 degrees E. It was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on 5 June 2006. It is a critical fish breeding and biodiversity area; while artisanal/subsistence fishing by local communities continues, the area is a protected wetland of international importance and spearfishing is not a sanctioned recreational activity here.
- National parks and game reserves under the Wild Life Conservation and National Parks Act 2003 (e.g. Boma, Badingilo, Nimule, Southern National Park)national park / game reserve
South Sudan maintains 19 wildlife protected areas (six national parks and 13 game reserves) under the Wild Life Conservation and National Parks Act 2003, several of which (such as Nimule on the White Nile, and the seasonal wetlands of Boma and Badingilo) include aquatic habitats. The Act governs conservation and the taking of wildlife in these protected areas; recreational spearfishing within national parks is not a permitted activity.
Bedingungen auf dem Wasser
Live-Bedingungen
Live-Momentaufnahme von Meer und Wetter nahe einem Küstenreferenzpunkt in South Sudan, von Open-Meteo. Die Bedingungen variieren entlang der Küste — als Richtwert betrachten.
Live-Meer & -Wetter nahe Sudd wetland (Ramsar Site No. 1622).
Wen man fragt
Behörden
Die offiziellen Stellen, die für Fischerei und Lizenzierung zuständig sind.
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (formerly Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries), Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development
fisheries authority
mafs.gov.ssJuba, South SudanMinistry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism (protected areas / national parks)
wildlife and protected areas authority
ecolex.orgJuba, South Sudan
Woher das stammt
Quellen
Jede Aussage auf dieser Seite lässt sich auf eine dieser Referenzen zurückführen.
- [01]
Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016 (Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development) - FAOLEX PDF ssd146714
Offiziellfaolex.fao.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [02]
Fisheries Policy for South Sudan 2012-2016 - ECOLEX record
Offiziellecolex.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [03]
Wild Life Conservation and National Parks Act, 2003 - ECOLEX/FAOLEX record
Offiziellecolex.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [04]
Sudan's designation of the Sudd marshes on World Environment Day 2006 - Ramsar Convention
Offiziellramsar.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [05]
Sudd | Ramsar Sites Information Service (Site No. 1622)
Offiziellrsis.ramsar.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [06]
Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (South Sudan) - Wikipedia (ministry renaming to Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries)
Sekundären.wikipedia.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [07]
Fledgling Fishing Sector in South Sudan Is Growing, but Threatened by a Lack of Policies - Pulitzer Center
Sekundärpulitzercenter.orgAbgerufen Jun 15 - [08]
Fishing in South Sudan - Exploring the Rich Aquatic Biodiversity of the Nile & Sudd Swamp (traditional spear/bow methods) - Magical South Sudan Tours
communitymagicalsouthsudan.comAbgerufen Jun 15
Anmerkungen des Rechercheurs
South Sudan (independent 2011) is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; this record covers freshwater fishing in the White Nile, the Sudd wetland and associated lakes and rivers. There is NO spearfishing-specific legislation. The only fisheries statute in force is the colonial-era Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 (inherited from Sudan), whose legitimacy the country's own official Fisheries Policy 2012-2016 describes as doubtful. A modern Fisheries Bill, drafted in 2006 and re-edited as the draft Fisheries Bill 2012, has not been enacted, and secondary reporting (Pulitzer Center / InfoNile, 2024) confirms the sector still lacks an up-to-date legal framework and that the Ministry only issues operational fishing licences. Verbatim legal-status text was retrieved from the official Ministry policy PDF on FAOLEX (ssd146714.pdf), which paraphrases the relevant sections of the 1954 Act and the draft Bill; the full statutory text of the 1954 Act itself was not retrievable online. Traditional artisanal/subsistence fishing with spears, bows and arrows, traps and baskets is widespread, but this is customary subsistence practice, not a regulated recreational-spearfishing regime. Because no recreational spearfishing rules exist and the underlying framework is unsettled, spearfishing_allowed is set to 'unknown' and data_confidence to 'low'. Coordinates for the Sudd (lat 8.0, lng 31.0) are approximate, derived from the Ramsar designation (~8N 31E) and corroborated by the policy document range (6 to 9 degrees 30 minutes N, 30 to 32 degrees E).
Benachrichtige mich, wenn sich die Regeln von South Sudan ändern
Wir mailen dir, wenn die Saisonzeiten oder Vorschriften von South Sudan in unserem Datensatz aktualisiert werden.