India
Asia · Southern Asia
India has no dedicated national law that defines or expressly licenses recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing / подводная охота). It is not a recognised, regulated sport at the national level and there is no national recreational-fishing permit system. Practice is governed indirectly by a patchwork of laws: the Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (bans destruction of fish by explosives, poison and noxious substances), the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (prohibits hunting/taking of scheduled marine species such as corals, sea cucumbers, seahorses, certain sharks and rays, sea turtles, and bans destruction/exploitation/removal of any wildlife inside Sanctuaries and Marine National Parks without a permit), and state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (which license fishing vessels and ban destructive methods and the take of WLPA-protected species). Fishing is a State subject within territorial waters (up to 12 nm), so rules vary by coastal state and Union Territory. Inside Marine Protected Areas (e.g. Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in the Andamans) any spearing/removal of marine life is prohibited. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and is not formally sanctioned in Lakshadweep. Where no MPA and no protected species are involved, recreational spearfishing is not specifically prohibited by name, but it is legally grey rather than clearly permitted.
Last updated June 22, 2026
Governing framework
- §Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (Act No. 4 of 1897)
- §Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
- §State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (e.g. Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983; Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 as amended 2019)
- §Andaman and Nicobar Islands Marine Fishing Regulation, 2003 (No. 1 of 2003) and Marine Fishing Rules, 2004 (incl. sport-fishing e-permit regime)
- §Lakshadweep Marine Fishing Regulation, 2000
- §Marine Fishing Regulation / Marine Protected Area notifications by coastal States and Union Territories
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.
Destruction of fish by explosives in inland waters and on coasts
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (Act No. 4 of 1897)
If any person uses any dynamite or other explosive substance in any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy any of the fish that may be therein he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. In this section the word "water" includes the sea within a distance of one marine league of the sea-coast; and an offence committed under this section in such sea may be tried, punished and in all respects dealt with as if it had been committed on the land abutting on such coast.
Destruction of fish by poisoning waters
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (Act No. 4 of 1897)
If any person puts any poison, lime or noxious material into any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy any fish, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, suspend the operation of this section in any specified area.
Definition of hunting
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
"hunting", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, includes,— (a) capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring, and trapping or any wild animal and every attempt to do so; (b) driving any wild animal for any of the purposes specified in sub-clause (a); (c) injuring or destroying or taking any part of the body of any such animal, or in the case of wild birds or reptiles, damaging the eggs of such birds or reptiles, or disturbing the eggs or nests of such birds or reptiles.
Prohibition of hunting of scheduled wild animals
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
No person shall hunt any wild animal specified in Schedule I, II, III and IV except as provided under section 11 and section 12.
Destruction, exploitation or removal of wildlife from a Sanctuary prohibited
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
No person shall destroy, exploit or remove any wild life including forest produce from a sanctuary or destroy or damage or divert the habitat of any wild animal by any act whatsoever or divert, stop or enhance the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary, except under and in accordance with a permit granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden, and no such permit shall be granted unless the State Government, being satisfied in consultation with the Board that such removal of wild life from the sanctuary or the change in the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary is necessary for the improvement and better management of wild life therein, authorises the issue of such permit.
Prohibited fishing methods and take of protected species (state Marine Fishing Regulation Act)
Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 (Act No. 8 of 1983) and Rules 2020
No owner or master of any fishing vessel shall carry on fishing by using dynamites or other form of explosive substances, poison or noxious materials. No owner or master of any fishing vessel shall carry on fishing of any fish species declared as protected fish species or living organisms under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
Power to regulate, restrict or prohibit fishing, gear, species and areas
Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 (Act 3 of 1981)
Power to regulate, restrict or prohibit certain matters within specified area. — (1) The Government may, having regard to the matters referred to in sub-section (2) by an order notified in the Official Gazette, regulate, restrict or prohibit — (a) the fishing in any specified area by such class or classes of fishing vessels as may be prescribed; or (b) the number of fishing vessels which may be used for fishing in any specified area; or (c) the catching in any specified area of such species of fish and for such period as may be specified in the notification; or (d) the use of such fishing gear in any specified area as may be prescribed; or (e) the fishing in any specified area during such period of day or night as may be prescribed.
Prohibition on destruction of fish by explosives, poison or noxious material (within 12 nautical miles)
Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980, as amended by the Goa Marine Fishing Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2019 (12 of 2019)
18A. Prohibition on destruction of fish by explosives in inland waters and on coast.— (1) No person shall use any dynamite or other explosive substance, with intent to catch or destroy fish in any waters. (2) No person shall put any poison, lime or noxious material in any waters, with intent thereby to catch or destroy any fish therein. Explanation:— The word water shall include the sea within the distance of 12 Nautical Mile of the sea coast.
Destruction, exploitation or removal of wildlife from a National Park prohibited
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
No person shall destroy, exploit, or remove any wildlife from a National Park or destroy or damage the habitat of any wild animal or deprive any wild animal or its habitat within such National Park except under and in accordance with a permit granted by the Chief Wildlife Warden and no such permit shall be granted unless the State Government, being satisfied that such destruction, exploitation, or removal of wildlife from the National Park is necessary for the improvement and better management of wildlife therein, authorizes the issue of such permit.
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedMechanised marine fishing (east coast States / Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar)Apr 15 – Jun 14
Annual monsoon/spawning fishing ban for mechanised vessels on the east coast and Andaman & Nicobar waters (commonly 61 days, mid-April to mid-June). Dates and duration vary slightly by State notification each year. Primarily targets mechanised commercial vessels rather than recreational divers, but indicates the closed-season regime in Indian marine waters.
- ClosedMechanised marine fishing (west coast States / Union Territories, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep)Jun 1 – Jul 31
Annual monsoon/spawning fishing ban for mechanised vessels on the west coast (commonly 61 days, June to July). Exact dates set by each State/UT notification annually.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
There is no dedicated national recreational spearfishing or angling licence in India. General fishing permits, where required, are issued by State Fisheries Departments and vary by State; marine fishing vessels are registered/licensed under State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts. Any activity inside a Sanctuary or Marine National Park requires a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · dof.gov.in
- Type
- No national recreational spearfishing licence exists
- Cost
- unknown
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- There is no dedicated national recreational spearfishing or angling licence in India. General fishing permits, where required, are issued by State Fisheries Departments and vary by State; marine fishing vessels are registered/licensed under State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts. Any activity inside a Sanctuary or Marine National Park requires a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Authority
- State Fisheries Departments; State Forest/Wildlife Departments (for protected areas)
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- No national rule specifically permits or restricts spearguns for recreational use; spearguns are not a regulated/recognised category in Indian fisheries law.
- Use of explosives, dynamite, poison, lime and noxious substances to catch or destroy fish is prohibited (Indian Fisheries Act, 1897, ss. 4-5; mirrored in state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts, e.g. Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980, s. 18A inserted by the 2019 amendment, defining 'water' to include the sea within 12 nautical miles of the coast).
- State governments may by Official Gazette notification regulate, restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing gear, the catching of particular species, or fishing in any specified area (e.g. Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980, s. 4) — a power that can reach spear gear if so notified.
- Inside Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries, taking, spearing or removing any marine life is prohibited without a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden (Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, ss. 29 (sanctuaries) & 35(6) (national parks)).
- Scuba diving operators in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands must not damage marine flora or fauna; touching/feeding corals and fish is prohibited.
- The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Marine Fishing Regulation, 2003 defines 'fishing gears' to include harpoons but expressly excludes explosives, poisons and chemicals / devices of mass destruction; sport fishing there is run under an e-permit and is prohibited in coral-reef areas, tribal belts, marine national parks and sanctuaries.
No verifiable national provision sets a maximum number of spears or expressly authorises/bans spearguns or scuba-assisted spearfishing for recreation. Equipment legality is inferred from general fisheries and wildlife law plus protected-area codes. Treat speargun_allowed and scuba_allowed as unknown.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
unknown
Protected species — do not take
- ProtectedSea turtles (all species, e.g. Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill)
- ProtectedSea cucumbers (Holothuroidea)
- ProtectedSeahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
- ProtectedHard and soft corals / sea fans (Scleractinia, Gorgonians)
- ProtectedCertain sharks (e.g. whale shark) and rays (e.g. sawfishes, some mobulid/manta rays)
- ProtectedGiant clams and certain protected molluscs
- ProtectedDugong (sea cow)
No national recreational daily bag or minimum-size limits specific to spearfishing were located. Numerous marine species are protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (around 41 marine species, most in Schedule I, which carries the highest protection); hunting/taking them is prohibited. Minimum legal sizes for some food fishes are set by individual State Fisheries Departments and were not retrieved here. Protected species list is indicative, not exhaustive — verify the current WLPA Schedules before any take.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
Requirements
- Foreign nationals must comply with the same fisheries and wildlife laws as residents.
- Some island and border areas (parts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) historically required or require special entry permits (Restricted/Protected Area Permit and, for Lakshadweep, an entry permit issued via epermit.utl.gov.in), separate from any fishing rules.
- In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, sport fishing requires an e-permit from the Department of Fisheries; reported fees are around 500 rupees per person per day for Indian tourists and 2,500 rupees per person per day for foreign tourists. Sport-fishing operations must not be carried out in coral-reef areas, tribal belts, marine national parks, sanctuaries or other gazette-notified areas, and any species protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 must be released.
Restrictions
- No clear legal basis was found that permits recreational spearfishing by foreigners; in practice it is not an offered/regulated activity for tourists outside of supervised demonstrations.
- Any take of marine life inside Marine Protected Areas is prohibited for everyone, residents and foreigners alike.
- Multiple dive/charter sources report that spearfishing is treated as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (the islands' sport-fishing regime promotes hand-line, trolling, jigging, popping and bottom fishing, and bars activity in reef/protected areas). This is widely reported rather than quoted from a single verbatim statute clause here, so it is flagged as practice/guidance, not confirmed black-letter text.
No India-specific rule expressly addressing spearfishing by foreigners was found. Status is unknown; assume the activity is at best legally grey and prohibited inside all marine protected areas.
Residents
unknown
Requirements
- Traditional and small-scale fishers operate under State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (vessel registration/licensing).
- No dedicated recreational spearfishing licence category exists for residents.
Marine fisheries within territorial waters (up to 12 nm) are regulated by individual coastal States and Union Territories, so resident rules vary by State. No resident-specific recreational spearfishing regime was identified at the national level.
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.
Prohibited areas
- Gulf of Mannar Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine National Park covering 21 islands and surrounding waters off Tamil Nadu (Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts). Extractive activities including unregulated fishing, coral and seashell collection, and any spearing/removal of marine life are prohibited under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Section 29 / Section 35).
- Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutchmarine national park
India's first marine national park, in the Gulf of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat; core area of about 110 km2 declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Removal or exploitation of marine wildlife (including by spearing) is prohibited.
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Wandoor)marine national park
Marine National Park near Wandoor, South Andaman, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Touching, feeding or damaging corals and fish and any removal of marine life is prohibited; violations of the National Marine Park Code are penalised by the A&N Islands Administration. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Rani Jhansi Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park (256 km2, est. 1996, IUCN Category II) in Ritchie's Archipelago, ~30 km from Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Protects coral reefs and mangrove forests; as a Marine National Park under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, any destruction, exploitation or removal of marine life (including spearing) is prohibited without a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden.
- Malvan Marine Wildlife Sanctuarymarine sanctuary
Marine wildlife sanctuary (29.12 km2; core zone 3.18 km2) off Malvan, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra (Arabian Sea), extending from Malvan port to the area around Sindhudurg fort and Padamged island. Declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; illegal fishing and coral harvesting are prohibited and any take/removal of marine life inside the sanctuary is barred without a Chief Wild Life Warden permit.
- Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Pittiwildlife sanctuary
Wildlife sanctuary on Pitti Island (also Pitti Bird Sanctuary), ~24 km north of Kavaratti, Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea), notified 25 January 2019 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (area ~40 sq km). A protected tern nesting island; as a sanctuary, take or removal of any wildlife including marine life (spearfishing) is prohibited without a Chief Wild Life Warden permit.
- Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve (Byramgore/Cheriyapani Reef)marine conservation reserve
World's first sea cucumber conservation reserve (239 km2), established 27 February 2020 over the Byramgore (Cheriyapani) Reef, an uninhabited atoll in northern Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea), ~50 km northwest of Bitra. Sea cucumbers are Schedule I protected species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 with a total ban on harvest/transport; the reserve is a no-take marine protected area.
- Middle Button Island National Parkmarine national park
Small marine national park (64 km2, est. 1979) around Middle Button Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal), part of the Button Islands group. As a national park under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, any taking/removal of marine life including spearfishing is prohibited.
Conditions on the water
Live conditions
Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in India, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.
Live marine & weather near Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India
national fisheries authority
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
environment ministry (administers Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and Marine Protected Areas)
State Fisheries Departments (e.g. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka)
state fisheries authority
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Administration (Department of Tourism / Forest Department)
union territory authority (marine national park and diving regulation)
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 — Bare Act (Sections 4-6)
Secondarylatestlaws.comAccessed Jun 14 - [02]
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 — full text (FAOLEX, FAO)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [03]
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — full statute (Animal Legal & Historical Center)
Secondaryanimallaw.infoAccessed Jun 14 - [04]
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972) — official text (India Code)
Officialindiacode.nic.inAccessed Jun 14 - [05]
Commentary: Conserving marine ecosystems through the Wild Life Protection Act (Mongabay India)
Secondaryindia.mongabay.comAccessed Jun 14 - [06]
Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 (ICSF / Small Scale Fish Workers)
Secondarysmallscalefishworkers.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [07]
Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 (India Code)
Officialindiacode.nic.inAccessed Jun 14 - [08]
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (Wikipedia)
Secondaryen.wikipedia.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [09]
Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch (Wikipedia)
Secondaryen.wikipedia.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [10]
Guidelines for Scuba Diving Centres in Andaman Nicobar Islands (A&N Tourism)
Officialandamantourism.gov.inAccessed Jun 14 - [11]
Monsoon trawl ban (Wikipedia)
Secondaryen.wikipedia.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [12]
How State Fisheries Provisions Complement Wildlife Law in Protecting Listed Marine Species (Conservation India)
Secondaryconservationindia.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [13]
Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 (Act 3 of 1981) with appended amendments incl. 12 of 2019 (PRS Legislative Research / ICSF)
Officialprsindia.orgAccessed Jun 22 - [14]
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Marine Fishing Regulation, 2003 (No. 1 of 2003), republished A&N Extraordinary Gazette, 14 May 2004 (FAOLEX, FAO)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 22 - [15]
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Marine Fishing Regulation, 2003 (India Code)
Officialindiacode.nic.inAccessed Jun 22 - [16]
Guidelines for Sport Fishing in Andaman & Nicobar Islands — Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration (e-permit portal; could not be fetched directly, server blocked automated access)
Officialfisheries.andaman.gov.inAccessed Jun 22 - [17]
Lakshadweep Marine Fishing Regulation, 2000 (FAOLEX / FAO)
Officialfao.orgAccessed Jun 22
Researcher notes
India has NO dedicated national law that names, defines, or licenses recreational spearfishing (подводная охота); it is not a recognised regulated sport. Legality is therefore inferred from: (1) Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 — bans explosives/poison fishing nationally (verbatim text captured); (2) Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — bans hunting/taking of ~41 scheduled marine species and any take inside Sanctuaries/Marine National Parks (verbatim ss. 2(16), 9, 29 captured); (3) state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts — license vessels and ban destructive methods + take of WLPA species (TN excerpt captured). Fishing within 12 nm is a State subject, so rules vary by coastal State/UT and detailed state-by-state recreational rules were not all retrievable. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and not formally sanctioned in Lakshadweep; inside any MPA it is prohibited. Confidence is LOW because no source expressly states the legal status of recreational spearfishing per se — the assessment ('restricted') is a reasoned inference from adjacent statutes, not a direct citation. Several law texts come from reputable secondary/aggregator transcriptions of bare acts (latestlaws, animallaw.info); official India Code / FAOLEX PDFs were JBIG2-scanned or returned HTTP 403 and could not be transcribed verbatim, but are listed as official sources for cross-checking. Equipment, catch limits, and foreigner/resident specifics for spearfishing remain largely unknown and are marked accordingly. Verify current WLPA Schedules and the specific coastal State's Marine Fishing Regulation Act/Rules before any activity. 2026-06-22 deepening (state-level evidence): added verbatim text of (a) Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 s. 4 (state power to regulate/restrict/prohibit gear, species and areas by Official Gazette notification) and (b) its s. 18A (2019 amendment) banning explosives/poison/noxious material to take fish, defining 'water' as the sea within 12 nautical miles — both extracted from the PRS Legislative Research consolidated PDF (official-grade gazette text); plus (c) WLPA s. 35(6) (national-park no-take, parallel to the s. 29 sanctuary clause). The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Marine Fishing Regulation, 2003 (FAOLEX official PDF) was fetched and confirms the A&N regulatory basis and that its definition of 'fishing gears' includes harpoons but excludes explosives/poisons/chemicals; its scanned OCR was too degraded to quote verbatim, so it is recorded as a source only (no fabricated quote). The A&N sport-fishing e-permit regime (Department of Fisheries) — permitted methods (hand-line, trolling, jigging, popping, bottom fishing), prohibited areas (coral reefs, tribal belts, marine national parks, sanctuaries), mandatory release of WLPA species, and the Indian/foreigner per-day fee differential (~500/~2,500 rupees) — is documented from the official A&N fisheries portal/NSWS listing; the underlying SportFishingGuidlines.pdf (which reportedly addresses spearfishing) blocked all automated access and could NOT be transcribed, so spearfishing being 'not permitted' in the Andamans is recorded as widely-reported practice/guidance, not as a verbatim statute clause. Confidence raised LOW -> MEDIUM on the strength of the added state MFRA and WLPA national-park provisions; the overall 'restricted' status remains a reasoned inference because no Indian source expressly defines or licenses recreational spearfishing as such.
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