Kuwait
Asia · Western Asia
Recreational spearfishing is effectively prohibited in Kuwait. Decree No. 22 of 1980 (issued under Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources) makes it unlawful to catch fish or other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters using 'harpoon guns' (i.e. spearguns), alongside explosives, poisons, barbed gear, electric means and hooks. The prohibition applies across all Kuwaiti territorial waters. Independently, only licensed Kuwaiti fishing vessels may fish at all (Law No. 46 of 1980, Arts. 3-4); recreational/leisure fishing is banned within three nautical miles of all Kuwaiti coasts and islands (Decree No. 11 of 1983), and Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 prohibits hunting/catching marine organisms outside designated seasons and areas. Combined, there is no lawful avenue for recreational underwater spearfishing.
Last updated May 21, 2025
Governing framework
- §Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources
- §Decree No. 22 of 1980 on Prohibition of Specific Materials in Kuwaiti Territorial Waters
- §Decree No. 11 of 1983 prohibiting fishing within 3 miles from the coasts of Kuwait
- §Decree No. 13 of 1983 on Prohibition of fishing in certain areas in the territorial waters of Kuwait
- §Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 (Art. 100)
- License required
- Required
- Speargun
- Prohibited
- Foreigners
- Not allowed
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.
Prohibition of harpoon guns and other destructive fishing means
Decree No. 22 of 1980 on Prohibition of Specific Materials in Kuwaiti Territorial Waters
Article 1. - It shall be unlawful to catch fish and other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters by using explosives, poisonous or intoxicating substances, barbed fishing equipment, electric means, harpoon guns, or hooks. Article 2. - Anyone violating the provisions of this Decree shall be subject to the penalties established by law. Article 3. - The competent authorities shall enforce this Decree which shall be effective on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Licensing of fishing, gear, and amateur fishing; prohibition powers
Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources
Article 4 - No Kuwait vessel shall practice fishing without a licence issued by the Fisheries Resources Department. The licence shall specify fishing techniques, gear and vessel's specifications as well as its crew. Article 6 - Anyone engaged in fishing on a Kuwaiti fishing vessel or using a fishing gear should have a licence from the Fisheries Resources Department specifying the type of work licensed. Article 7 - The Fisheries Resources Department shall decide the regulations for amateur fishing and for members of clubs and bodies. This Department may ask those concerned to obtain licences if necessary. Article 8 - In cooperation with departments concerned the competent minister shall issue regulations organizing fishing specially concerning the following: ... (e) Specify the equipment and gear that could be used and others that should be prohibited. (f) Prohibit materials noxious to the growth, reproduction and migration of fish and other living marine resources. ... (i) Prohibit the fishing of certain species of fish and other living marine resources definitely or indefinitely, and in all or part of the territorial waters.
Penalties for fishing without a licence and for breaching fishing rules
Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources
Article 12 - Without prejudice to any other stronger penalty, any violation of Articles 2, 4, 5 and 8 of this Law shall be punishable by a fine of not more than 500 Dinars and not less than 50 Dinars. In addition to this fine the offender's vessel, seized properties or the cash bond may be confiscated, according to circumstances, and the licence shall be withdrawn indefinitely or for a definite period until the offence is removed. Likewise, the offender may be ordered to pay double licence fee. A confiscated vessel shall not be released except after having paid the fine and fees. Article 13 - Any violations to the provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of this Law shall be punishable by a fine to the amount of 50 Dinars. To this fine may be added the confiscation of seized fishing gear and catch. The offender may also have to pay double licence fee.
Prohibition of fishing within 3 miles of Kuwaiti coasts and islands
Decree No. 11 of 1983 prohibiting fishing within 3 miles from the coasts of Kuwait
It is absolutely prohibited for Kuwaiti fishing vessels to practice fishing on all the coasts of Kuwait and its islands and for a distance of 3 miles therefrom. (Violations are subject to penalties under Law No. 46 of 1980.)
Prohibition of fishing in certain areas of Kuwaiti territorial waters
Decree No. 13 of 1983 on Prohibition of fishing in certain areas in the territorial waters of Kuwait
Article 1. - No fishing vessel shall fish in the area located between the line starting from Vielka Island to Raas Alard in the east and from Vielka Island to Raas Albrsha in the north including Khor Alspiea; the prohibited area shall include all of John Elkiwail. Article 2. - Any one who violates this Decree shall be subject to the penalties provided for in the Law No. 46 of 1980. Article 3. - This Decree shall be published in the Gazette.
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedShrimp (penaeid shrimp), national watersFeb 1 – Aug 31
A closed season for shrimp catch is enforced in Kuwait waters during the shrimp spawning and breeding season, running from February to August each year. This is a fisheries conservation closure rather than a spearfishing-specific season; spearfishing itself remains prohibited year-round under Decree No. 22 of 1980.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
Through the Fisheries Resources Department / Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR). No mechanism exists for licensing recreational spearfishing, which is prohibited.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · e.gov.kw
- Type
- Fishing licence for vessels, gear and crew issued under Law No. 46 of 1980; no recreational spearfishing licence exists. Only licensed Kuwaiti-flagged vessels may fish.
- Cost
- Vessel/gear/crew licence fees set by ministerial regulation; e.g. crew professional licence fee was 1 Dinar/year (Decree No. 18 of 1980). No speargun/spearfishing permit is issued.
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- Through the Fisheries Resources Department / Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR). No mechanism exists for licensing recreational spearfishing, which is prohibited.
- Authority
- Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR) - Fisheries Resources Department
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Harpoon guns (spearguns) are expressly prohibited for catching marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters (Decree No. 22 of 1980, Art. 1).
- Also prohibited: explosives, poisonous or intoxicating substances, barbed fishing equipment, electric fishing means, and hooks (Decree No. 22 of 1980, Art. 1).
- Trawling for finfish, bottom-set gill nets, beach seine, long-lines and large-scale pelagic drift-nets are prohibited (PAAFR conservation measures).
- Use or experimentation with new/unfamiliar fishing techniques or equipment requires a licence from the Directorate of Fisheries Resources (Decree No. 21 of 1980).
The legal prohibition uses the term 'harpoon guns', which covers spearguns/Hawaiian slings used in underwater spearfishing. No exemption exists for recreational use.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
unknown
Law No. 46 of 1980 (Art. 8) empowers the competent minister to set minimum catch sizes, net mesh sizes, and to prohibit catching specific species; specific recreational catch limits were not retrieved. Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 broadly prohibits hunting, catching, collecting, harming, possessing or transporting wild/marine organisms outside seasons and areas defined by executive regulation.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
Not allowedRestrictions
- Only licensed Kuwaiti-flagged fishing vessels may fish in Kuwaiti waters; no foreign fishing vessel may fish without a special licence/agreement issued by the competent minister (Law No. 46 of 1980, Art. 2; Decree No. 19 of 1980).
- Spearfishing (harpoon guns) is prohibited for everyone regardless of nationality (Decree No. 22 of 1980).
There is no recreational spearfishing pathway for foreigners (or anyone). Tourists cannot legally spearfish in Kuwaiti waters.
Residents
Commercial fishing licence under Law No. 46 of 1980 (vessel, gear and crew); no recreational spearfishing licence.
Requirements
- Fishing vessel must be Kuwaiti-flagged and owned by a Kuwait resident under conditions set by the competent minister (Law No. 46 of 1980, Art. 3).
- Vessel must hold a licence specifying fishing techniques, gear, vessel specifications and crew (Art. 4); crew and gear users must hold their own licences (Arts. 5-6).
Even Kuwaiti residents/citizens may not use harpoon guns/spearguns; recreational spearfishing is not a permitted activity.
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
- All Kuwaiti coasts and islands (3-nautical-mile coastal belt)coastal nursery protection zone / no-fishing belt
Fishing by Kuwaiti vessels is absolutely prohibited along all coasts of Kuwait and its islands and for a distance of 3 miles therefrom (Decree No. 11 of 1983). Recreational/leisure boat fishing within the three-mile zone is likewise banned.
- Kuwait Bay (Jun Al-Kuwait)marine nursery / no-fishing area
Kuwait Bay is the country's largest natural nursery for marine life; fishing is prohibited in the bay as a recognized important nursery habitat for shrimp and fin fish.
- Closed area between Failaka (Vielka) Island, Ras Al-Ard, Ras Al-Barsha and Khor Al-Sabiya, including all of Jun Al-Kuwaitdesignated fishing prohibition area
Defined no-fishing area under Decree No. 13 of 1983, bounded by lines from Failaka Island to Ras Al-Ard (east) and to Ras Al-Barsha (north), including Khor Al-Sabiya and all of Jun Al-Kuwait (Kuwait Bay).
Conditions on the water
Live conditions
Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in Kuwait, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.
Live marine & weather near All Kuwaiti coasts and islands (3-nautical-mile coastal belt).
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR)
fisheries authority
e.gov.kwFisheries Resources Department, State of KuwaitEnvironment Public Authority (EPA) - Kuwait
environment authority
epa.gov.kwEnforces Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 (incl. Art. 100 on marine organisms)
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Decree No. 22 of 1980 on Prohibition of Specific Materials in Kuwaiti Territorial Waters (FAOLEX)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [02]
Decree Promulgating Law No. 46 of 1980 on Conservation of Fisheries Resources (FAOLEX)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [03]
Decree No. 13 of 1983 on Prohibition of fishing in certain areas in the territorial waters of Kuwait (FAOLEX)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [04]
Decree No. 11 of 1983 prohibiting fishing within 3 miles from the coasts of Kuwait (ECOLEX)
Officialecolex.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [05]
Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources - Action taken Report on UN Fish Stock Agreement (UN DOALOS)
Officialun.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [06]
EPA clarifies reasons behind fishing ban in certain areas (Times Kuwait, 20 May 2025)
Secondarytimeskuwait.comAccessed Jun 14 - [07]
Kuwait Government Online - Electronic Services for the Fish Resources Sector (PAAFR)
Officiale.gov.kwAccessed Jun 14
Researcher notes
Kuwait does not permit recreational underwater spearfishing. The decisive provision is Decree No. 22 of 1980, Article 1, which makes it unlawful to catch fish or other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters using 'harpoon guns' (spearguns), among other destructive means. This sits within Law No. 46 of 1980 (Conservation of Fisheries Resources), under which only licensed Kuwaiti vessels may fish and there is no recreational/amateur spearfishing licence. Additional layers reinforce the ban: a 3-nautical-mile coastal no-fishing belt (Decree No. 11 of 1983), area closures including Kuwait Bay (Decree No. 13 of 1983), and Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014. The core decree texts were retrieved verbatim from FAOLEX scanned PDFs (image-only, OCR-extracted locally); the 1980/1983 decrees are official English translations published by FAO/ECOLEX. Coordinates for prohibited zones are approximate centroids of the named features (Kuwait Bay, Failaka/Ras Al-Ard area) and are indicative, not legal boundaries. Confidence is high that spearfishing is prohibited; some operational details (exact recreational catch limits, current fee schedules) were not retrievable and are marked unknown.
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