Bangladesh · Spearfishing zone
Sonadia Island Ecologically Critical Area
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Sonadia Island Ecologically Critical Area.
Barrier island off the Cox's Bazar coast (Kutubjom Union, Maheshkhali Upazila), ~15 km north-west of Cox's Bazar town, declared a national Ecologically Critical Area in 1999 under the Environment Conservation Act, 1995. Supports the last remnant mangrove in SE Bangladesh and is a nesting site for olive ridley and green sea turtles, plus cetaceans and shorebirds. As an ECA the surrounding marine area is protected and extractive activity (including underwater hunting of protected species) is restricted.
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
21.4960°N, 91.8840°E
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Bangladesh
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
There is no licensing pathway for recreational spearfishing. Marine fishing licences and permits under the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 are for commercial industrial vessels and artisanal fishing vessels, not for recreational divers. Killing fish with a gun, bow and arrow (covering spearguns/harpoons) may be prohibited under section 3(b) of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · fisheries.portal.gov.bd