Dominican Republic · Spearfishing zone
Monumento Natural Isla Catalina
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Monumento Natural Isla Catalina.
Natural monument (Category III, Ley 202-04 numeral 32) consisting of the marine belt around Isla Catalina off La Romana, from the low-water mark to 500 m offshore along the entire coastline of the island (~22 km2) — one of the country's best-known dive sites ('The Wall', 'The Aquarium'), also lying within the span of the Santuario Marino Arrecifes del Sureste. Under Art. 43 of Law 307-04 any fishing inside protected-area limits requires a Ministry of Environment permit; spearfishing prohibited without it. The Category III regime (Ley 202-04 Art. 14) admits only research, education, recreation, ecotourism and traditional activities per management plan.
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
18.3576°N, 69.0083°W
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Dominican Republic
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Apply to CODOPESCA (Consejo Dominicano de Pesca y Acuicultura). Each licence states the fishing activity, permitted gear types and area of operation. Licences are non-transferable. In practice, charter/dive operators can arrange a recreational licence on a visitor's behalf.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · codopesca.gob.do
