Mongolia
Asia · Eastern Asia
Mongolia is a landlocked country, so there is no marine spearfishing; all fishing is freshwater (rivers and lakes). Fishing is legally treated as taking of 'game animals' and is governed by the Law on Hunting (5 May 2000) and the Law on Fauna (5 May 2000). Spearfishing / underwater hunting is not a recognised or permitted fishing method. The Law on Hunting expressly prohibits taking fish with 'guns, torches, electric shocks, forks, dams, or small nets' (Art. 14.1.6) and bans nets for household fishing (Art. 14.1.7); recreational fishing in practice is restricted to rod-and-line / fly fishing under a paid permit, with strict species protection (taimen catch-and-release for foreigners) and a closed spring spawning season. There is no legal pathway for recreational spearfishing.
Last updated June 15, 2026
Governing framework
- §Law on Hunting (Mongolia), 5 May 2000
- §Law on Fauna (Mongolia), 5 May 2000
- §Law on Hunting Resource Use Payments and on Hunting and Trapping Authorization Fees (Mongolia), 2000
- License required
- Required
- Speargun
- Prohibited
- 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.
Prohibited hunting and trapping methods, firearms and instruments (fishing methods)
Law on Hunting (Mongolia), 5 May 2000
Article 14. Prohibited Hunting and Trapping Methods, Firearms and Instruments. 14.1 The following methods, firearms and instruments are prohibited for hunting and trapping of animals: 14.1.1 using chemical substances and explosives; ... 14.1.6 using guns, torches, electric shocks, forks, dams, or small nets to fish; 14.1.7 using a net to fish for household purposes; 14.1.8 using guns which are not designed for hunting animals.
Permitted hunting/fishing seasons (closed season for fish)
Law on Hunting (Mongolia), 5 May 2000
13.2 Hunting of birds and fishing for household and industrial purposes is permitted as follows: ... 13.2.3 Siberian whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) from October 20th to August 1st; 13.2.4 Fishing in Lake Buir from August 1st to May 15th of the following calendar year; 13.2.5 Baikal Omul (Coregonus autumnalis) from September 1st to December 1st; 13.2.6 Omul (Coregonus peled) from November 15th to August 1st of the following calendar year; 13.2.7 Siberian Ide (Leuciscus leuciscus) from August 1st to April 15th of the following calendar year; 13.2.8 Fishing for species other than those specified in 13.2.1 to 13.2.7 of this Article from June 15th to April 1st.
Household fishing permits and limits; foreigners limited to household fishing
Law on Hunting (Mongolia), 5 May 2000
10.3 A one time permit to hunt or trap game animals for household purposes issued to citizens of Mongolia shall be valid for: 10.3.1 up to 3 days to hunt or trap birds and to fish; ... 10.4 The one time license specified in 10.3 may authorize hunting and trapping of up to 1 hoofed animal, 5 marmots, 1 other fur animal, 10 Hazel Grouse or Ptarmigan, or Rock Ptarmigan, or Daurian Partridge or Pallas Sand Grouse, 5 other forest, steppe or wetland birds, 2 Taimen, and not more than 10 other fish. 10.5 Foreigners who temporarily or permanently reside within the territory of Mongolia may fish only for household purposes and on the basis of established fee rates for Mongolia citizens.
Hunting and trapping of fauna regulated by the Law on Hunting
Law on Fauna (Mongolia), 5 May 2000
The hunting and trapping of fauna is regulated by the Law on Hunting. [The legislation on fauna consists of the Constitution of Mongolia, the Law on the Protection of the Environment, the Law on Special Protected Areas, this Law and other legislative acts.]
One-time licence fee for fishing for household needs
Law on Hunting Resource Use Payments and on Hunting and Trapping Authorization Fees (Mongolia), 2000
A one time license fee for hunting birds and fishing for household needs shall be 400 to 600 Tugrig. [Payments for fish caught for industrial, cultural, or scientific purposes shall be 20 to 30 Tugrig per kilogram.]
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedAll fish species not otherwise specified (general spawning closure)Apr 1 – Jun 15
General closed season for fishing of species other than those with specific seasons. Law on Hunting Art. 13.2.8 permits fishing for such species only from 15 June to 1 April, i.e. closed 1 April - 15 June to protect spring spawning. Outfitters and the Ministry of Environment apply an open season of approximately 16 June to 1 November.
- OpenSiberian whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus)Oct 20 – Aug 1
Fishing permitted 20 October to 1 August (Law on Hunting Art. 13.2.3).
- OpenLake Buir (Buir Nuur)Aug 1 – May 15
Fishing in Lake Buir permitted from 1 August to 15 May of the following year (Law on Hunting Art. 13.2.4).
- OpenSiberian Ide (Leuciscus leuciscus)Aug 1 – Apr 15
Fishing permitted 1 August to 15 April of the following year (Law on Hunting Art. 13.2.7).
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
From the Soum Governor / Ministry of Environment and Tourism; online via the official permit portal ezagas.mn for the Onon and Balj rivers; for other basins through licensed outfitter companies working with the Ministry.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · ezagas.mn
- Type
- Fishing permit / one-time hunting-and-trapping (fishing) licence; separate special taimen angling licence allocated to approved outfitters
- Cost
- Statutory one-time licence fee for fishing for household needs: 400-600 Tugrig (Law on Hunting Resource Use Payments). In practice for foreign anglers: roughly US$20 for a 2-day general permit; US$150-500 for small-fish or taimen permits via outfitters.
- Validity
- One-time permit valid up to 3 days for fishing (Law on Hunting Art. 10.3.1); general foreigner permits often issued for ~2 days.
- How to obtain
- From the Soum Governor / Ministry of Environment and Tourism; online via the official permit portal ezagas.mn for the Onon and Balj rivers; for other basins through licensed outfitter companies working with the Ministry.
- Authority
- Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia (and local Soum Governors)
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Prohibited fishing instruments per Law on Hunting Art. 14.1.6: guns, torches, electric shocks, forks (spear-type implements), dams, and small nets.
- Nets prohibited for household fishing (Art. 14.1.7).
- Chemical substances and explosives prohibited (Art. 14.1.1).
- In taimen waters: single barbless hooks only; fly fishing effectively the only legal method; no motorised boats in certain sanctuaries (outfitter/sanctuary rules).
Spearguns / spears / harpoons are not a permitted fishing method. The Law on Hunting lists spear-type ('forks') and other instruments among prohibited means of taking fish, and recreational fishing is in practice limited to rod-and-line / fly fishing. The term 'forks' is the English FAO translation of the prohibited spearing implements.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
One-time household permit caps the take at 2 Taimen and not more than 10 other fish per permit (Law on Hunting Art. 10.4). Foreign anglers: taimen are catch-and-release (zero retention).
Minimum sizes
- Taimen (Hucho taimen)min 70 cm
Protected species — do not take
- ProtectedTaimen (Hucho taimen) - special angling licence required, 70 cm minimum size, catch-and-release for foreign anglers, ban on fishing spawning grounds
- ProtectedArctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) - complete fishing ban in all water bodies of the Darhat Basin
- ProtectedAmur Catfish - fishing banned during breeding period
Export of any wild-caught fish or taimen parts is strictly prohibited. Taimen permits (~500/year) are allocated to government-approved outfitters.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
AllowedSpecial license required
Requirements
- Fishing permit mandatory for all anglers including foreigners (shore, boat or float trip).
- Foreigners may fish only for household purposes and pay the same fee rates as Mongolian citizens (Law on Hunting Art. 10.5).
- In practice foreign anglers must obtain permits through licensed outfitters and are generally accompanied by a licensed guide/outfitter.
- Taimen must be released immediately by foreign anglers.
Restrictions
- No spearfishing / underwater hunting (not a permitted method).
- No fishing before 15 June (spring spawning closure).
- Export of wild-caught fish or taimen parts prohibited.
- Fishing without a valid permit risks fines (from ~300,000 MNT), gear confiscation and deportation.
Independent permit application is possible via ezagas.mn for the Onon/Balj rivers but is difficult for non-Mongolian speakers; most foreigners go through approved outfitters.
Residents
One-time hunting-and-trapping permit for household fishing, issued by the Soum Governor
Requirements
- Pay statutory fee (400-600 Tugrig one-time licence) and obtain permit from the Soum Governor (Law on Hunting Art. 10.1).
- Permit lists species, quantity, season and location; valid up to 3 days for fishing.
Benefits
- Local communities may have limited harvest rights under traditional quotas (e.g. up to 2 taimen per household permit), whereas foreigners are zero-retention for taimen.
Household fishing only; commercial/industrial fishing requires a contract with the Soum Governor.
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
Freshwater rod-and-line / fly fishing permitted under permit obtained via the official portal ezagas.mn. Spearfishing is not a permitted method anywhere; these are rod-and-line angling waters only. Taimen sanctuary rules apply (single barbless hooks, catch-and-release).
Permit required; taimen catch-and-release for foreigners; fly fishing / rod-and-line only; no spearfishing or netting.
Prohibited areas
- Spawning grounds (all waters during spawning)seasonal spawning closure
Fishing on spawning grounds is banned; spring spawning closure 1 April - 15 June.
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia
environment ministry
Ezagas - official natural resource use permit portal
permit / licensing portal
Soum (district) Governors
local hunting/fishing permit authority
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Law on Hunting (Mongolia), 5 May 2000 - FAOLEX (English translation)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [02]
Law on Fauna (Mongolia), 5 May 2000 - FAOLEX (English translation)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [03]
Law on Hunting Resource Use Payments and on Hunting and Trapping Authorization Fees (Mongolia) - FAOLEX (English translation)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [04]
FAO - Fish and fisheries in Mongolia (species, protection measures, bans)
Officialfao.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [05]
Fishing in Mongolia 2026: Taimen / Onon River - permits, seasons, methods
Secondaryfishingworldguide.comAccessed Jun 15 - [06]
Mongolia River Outfitters - Fishing Regulations
Secondarymongoliarivers.comAccessed Jun 15 - [07]
Mongolia fishing - guided and independent angling advice
communitymongolia-travel-advice.comAccessed Jun 15
Researcher notes
Mongolia is landlocked (no sea coast); there is no marine spearfishing and no recreational marine fishery. All fishing is freshwater. Mongolian law does not use the term 'spearfishing/underwater hunting' and provides no legal pathway for it: fishing is treated as taking 'game animals' under the Law on Hunting (5 May 2000), which (Art. 14.1.6) lists spear-type implements ('forks'), guns, electric shocks, dams and small nets among prohibited means of taking fish, and (Art. 14.1.7) bans nets for household fishing. Permitted recreational fishing is rod-and-line / fly fishing under a paid permit, with taimen protection (catch-and-release for foreigners, 70 cm minimum, special licence) and a spring spawning closure (approx. 1 April - 15 June). Therefore spearfishing is classified 'no' (effectively prohibited / not a lawful method). Confidence is 'medium' rather than 'high' because the prohibition is inferred from a general 'prohibited methods' clause and an FAO English translation (the word 'forks' rendering the spearing implement), not from an explicit statutory term 'spearfishing'; the retrieved FAOLEX English texts are the 2000-era versions and later Mongolian-language amendments (e.g. 2012 Law on Fauna) were not available in verified English verbatim form.
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