Botswana
Africa · Southern Africa
Botswana is landlocked, so any spearfishing would be freshwater only (Okavango Delta, Chobe River, Limpopo system and inland dams). The governing law is the Fish Protection Act (Cap. 38:04, formerly Act 42 of 1975) and the Fish Protection Regulations 2016, administered by the Fisheries Division of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Ministry of Environment and Tourism). Neither the Act nor publicly available materials specifically authorise or prohibit spearfishing/spearguns by name. The Act bans the use of explosive, poisonous or noxious substances and empowers the Minister to regulate fishing methods, nets, gear, licences and seasons. In practice the recognised fishing methods are gill nets (commercial), hook-and-line, traps and fly/spin angling (recreational); recreational fishing requires a licence and a national closed season runs roughly 1 January to end of February (open season 1 March to 31 December). Fishing is prohibited inside national parks and certain game reserves (e.g. Chobe National Park, parts of the Okavango Delta within reserves). Because no provision squarely addresses recreational spearfishing, its legal status is treated as unknown pending confirmation from the Fisheries Division.
Last updated June 14, 2026
Governing framework
- §Fish Protection Act, Cap. 38:04 (originally Act 42 of 1975, commenced 31 December 1975)
- §Fish Protection Regulations, 2016 (subsidiary legislation under the Fish Protection Act)
- §Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act (fishing prohibitions inside national parks and game reserves)
- License required
- Required
- Foreigners
- Welcome
The law, verbatim
Legal texts
The exact statutory and regulatory provisions that govern spearfishing here, quoted as published, with a link to each official source.
Regulations (powers of the Minister to regulate fishing, gear, seasons and licences)
Fish Protection Act, Cap. 38:04 (Act 42 of 1975)
Regulations. (1) The Minister may make regulations which shall apply to such areas as are specified therein, providing for the more effectual control, protection and improvement of fish, and the government and management of any specified area in which fishing may be carried on, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing for all or any part of the following purposes- (a) imposing and prescribing conditions for the regulation of fishing; (b) registering all boats employed in fishing; (c) determining the times and seasons at which the taking of any species of fish shall commence and cease; (d) the issuing of licences and certificates of registration to persons authorized to take any species of fish; (e) prescribing the fees to be paid for or in respect of any licence or registration issued or made; (f) providing for and regulating the description and form of nets to be used in fishing and the size of the meshes thereof, or the prohibiting of any special description of nets or meshes or any tackle, instrument or appliance whatsoever tending to impede the lawful taking of fish or being in any manner detrimental to the preservation or increase of fish; (g) prohibiting, restricting or regulating the bringing into Botswana of any live fish; (h) prohibiting, restricting or regulating the transfer within Botswana of any live fish; (i) prohibiting, restricting or regulating the sale of any fish.
Prohibition of use of explosive, poisonous or noxious substances
Fish Protection Act, Cap. 38:04 (Act 42 of 1975)
Prohibition of use of explosive, poisonous or noxious substances. Any person who uses or permits to be used any explosive, poisonous or noxious substance for the purpose of killing, stunning or disabling fish or in any way rendering fish more easily caught shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding P500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.
Powers of entry, seizure and arrest (gear, instruments and appliances used in fishing)
Fish Protection Act, Cap. 38:04 (Act 42 of 1975)
Powers of entry, seizure and arrest. Any authorized officer or police officer not below the rank of assistant inspector may- (a) at all reasonable times enter into and upon any land or premises, or stop and enter upon any boat, for the purpose of preventing or detecting offences under this Act or any regulations made thereunder; (b) seize any (i) boat, explosive, poisonous or noxious substance, net, instrument, rod, line or any other appliance or article which he has reasonable cause to believe is being or has been used in contravention of this Act or any regulation made thereunder; or (ii) fish which he has reasonable cause to believe was captured in contravention of this Act or any regulations made thereunder; or (c) without warrant, arrest and search any person whom he may find committing, or whom he reasonably suspects of having committed, an offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder.
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedAll freshwater fishing nationwide (fish breeding/spawning protection)Jan 1 – Feb 28
National closed season: fishing is prohibited during January and February for fish breeding purposes. The recreational fishing open season runs 1 March to 31 December annually, per the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
- OpenRecreational fishing nationwideMar 1 – Dec 31
Open fishing season for recreational/sport fishing in Botswana is 1 March to 31 December annually (Government of Botswana, Recreational Fishing Licence).
- ClosedChobe River (tiger fish spawning closure)Jan 1 – Mar 31
Fishing on the Chobe River is reported to be closed during the tiger fish (Hydrocynus vittatus) spawning period, generally January to March, to preserve the ecosystem.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
Download, complete and submit the Recreational Fishing Licence form with supporting documents to the nearest Department of Wildlife & National Parks office. Available to citizens and non-citizens aged 18 and above.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · gov.bw
- Type
- Recreational Fishing Licence (sport/recreational fishing)
- Cost
- unknown
- Validity
- Per fishing season (open season 1 March - 31 December)
- How to obtain
- Download, complete and submit the Recreational Fishing Licence form with supporting documents to the nearest Department of Wildlife & National Parks office. Available to citizens and non-citizens aged 18 and above.
- Authority
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Fisheries Division), Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Use of any explosive, poisonous or noxious substance to kill, stun, disable or more easily catch fish is prohibited (Fish Protection Act s.4)
- The Minister may regulate or prohibit nets, mesh sizes and any tackle, instrument or appliance detrimental to fish preservation (Fish Protection Act s.3(1)(f))
- Commercial fishing uses gill nets; recreational sport fishing is commonly catch-and-release with live or artificial bait / fly tackle
No publicly retrievable provision of the Fish Protection Act or the 2016 Fish Protection Regulations specifically names spearguns or spearfishing. Spearfishing legality cannot be confirmed from available sources; confirm directly with the Fisheries Division before assuming it is permitted.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
unknown
Specific daily bag limits, minimum sizes and protected freshwater species are set under the Fish Protection Regulations 2016, whose full text was not openly retrievable. Most recreational sport fishing at safari lodges is conducted on a catch-and-release basis. Targeted species include tilapia/bream (Oreochromis spp.), tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus), catfish (Clarias spp.) and African pike.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
AllowedRequirements
- Obtain a Recreational Fishing Licence from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks
- Must be 18 years of age or above
Restrictions
- Subject to the same national closed season (Jan-Feb) and park/reserve no-fishing zones as residents
The Recreational Fishing Licence is expressly available to both citizens and non-citizens aged 18+. No separate special foreigner licence is documented; tourists typically fish via licensed safari lodges.
Residents
Recreational Fishing Licence (citizens) / Commercial Fishing Licence for profit fishing
Requirements
- Recreational Fishing Licence for sport fishing; Commercial Fishing Licence (issued by DWNP) to fish for profit or use gill nets
Benefits
- Traditional/subsistence user rights granted to local fishers in Controlled Hunting Areas (CHAs) in the lower Okavango Delta
Subsistence fishers use traditional gear (homemade gill nets, baskets, hook-and-line, traps, fences). Commercial fishing (mainly gill nets) is licensed at BWP 200 for three consecutive seasons.
Where on the coast
Allowed & prohibited zones
Named areas that are open to or closed for spearfishing. See the full picture on the interactive map.
Allowed areas
Botswana's largest fishery (~80% of national catch). Recreational fly and spin angling for tilapia/bream, tigerfish, catfish and African pike on rivers and channels of the Delta, outside the gazetted game reserves where fishing is prohibited. A recreational fishing licence and the national closed season apply.
Recreational fishing licence required; national closed season Jan-Feb; fishing prohibited within Moremi Game Reserve and other reserves inside the Delta; commonly catch-and-release at lodges.
Tiger fish and tilapia angling on the Chobe River near Kasane, outside the national park boundary where all fishing is prohibited. Subject to the tiger fish spawning closure.
No fishing inside Chobe National Park; tiger fish spawning closure approx Jan-Mar; recreational licence required.
Small reservoirs in south-eastern Botswana stocked with bream/tilapia, catfish and Labeo; used for licensed commercial and recreational fishing.
Recreational fishing licence required; national closed season Jan-Feb.
Prohibited areas
- Chobe National Parknational park
All forms of fishing are prohibited within Chobe National Park; most off-take occurs outside the park boundary.
- Moremi Game Reserve and other game reserves within the Okavango Deltagame reserve / national park
Fishing in the game reserves that fall within the Okavango Delta is prohibited; traditional user rights are granted only in designated Controlled Hunting Areas (CHAs) in the lower Delta.
Conditions on the water
Live conditions
Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in Botswana, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.
Live marine & weather near Okavango Delta (rivers and channels, outside reserves).
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Fish Protection Act 1975 (Chapter 38:04 / Act 42 of 1975) - full statute (WTO Import Licensing repository, Government of Botswana copyright)
Officialimportlicensing.wto.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [02]
Fish Protection Act 1975 (Chapter 36:02) - legislation record
Officialecolex.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [03]
FAO Fishery Country Profile - The Republic of Botswana (FID/CP/BOT, April 2007)
Officialfao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [04]
Recreational Fishing Licence - Government of Botswana (gov.bw)
Officialgov.bwAccessed Jun 14 - [05]
Commercial Fishing License - Government of Botswana (gov.bw)
Officialgov.bwAccessed Jun 14 - [06]
Find Fisheries expertise in Botswana - Commonwealth of Nations (Fish Protection Act, regulations, Delta CHAs)
Secondarycommonwealthofnations.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [07]
Fishing - Botswana Tourism Organisation (catch-and-release, fishing locations, seasonality)
Officialbotswanatourism.co.bwAccessed Jun 14 - [08]
Fishing in Botswana - When to go & Where to stay (closed season Jan-Feb, regional seasons)
Secondarybotswanasafari.co.zaAccessed Jun 14 - [09]
Botswana Away - Fishing safaris (Chobe River tiger fish spawning closure Jan-Mar)
communitybotswanaaway.comAccessed Jun 14
Researcher notes
Botswana is landlocked (no sea coastline); all fishing is freshwater (Okavango Delta, Chobe/Linyanti, Limpopo system and inland dams). Spearfishing is not specifically named or regulated in the publicly available Fish Protection Act (Cap. 38:04) or in retrievable summaries of the Fish Protection Regulations 2016, so its precise legal status is UNKNOWN and must be confirmed with the DWNP Fisheries Division. The Act bans explosives/poisons/noxious substances (s.4) and empowers the Minister to regulate or prohibit any tackle, instrument or appliance (s.3(1)(f)), under which a speargun could in principle be restricted. Recreational fishing requires a licence, observes a national closed season (Jan-Feb), and is banned inside national parks and game reserves (Chobe NP, Moremi/Okavango reserves). The full verbatim text of the 2016 Regulations (bag limits, mesh sizes, protected species, gear lists) was not openly retrievable online; those fields are left unknown rather than guessed. Note also that the legacy Fish Protection Act has reportedly been affected by the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks (Amendment) Act 2023 (per ECOLEX), which was not independently verified here. Confidence is medium: the general framework, authority, season and zones are well sourced from official documents, but spearfishing-specific rules are absent from available sources.
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