El Salvador · Spearfishing zone
Complejo Costero Marino Isla San Sebastian-Jiquilisco
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Complejo Costero Marino Isla San Sebastian-Jiquilisco.
El Salvador's second declared coastal-marine protected natural area (Area Natural Protegida costero marina), in Jiquilisco Bay, Usulutan department, declared via the Official Gazette in November 2019. The declaration covers territorial waters and seabed totalling approximately 19,760 hectares. Beaches on Isla San Sebastian host one of the most important hawksbill sea-turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata, critically endangered) nesting aggregations on the eastern Pacific. As a declared marine protected area it falls under MARN management and the special/protected-area fishing regime; non-authorized extraction methods (incl. spearfishing) are restricted/prohibited. Overlaps the Ramsar-listed Complejo Bahia de Jiquilisco (Ramsar #1586, 2005).
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
13.3330°N, 88.5500°W
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for El Salvador
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Apply to the competent authority (formerly CENDEPESCA, since 2026 the Autoridad Salvadorena de Economia Azul - ASEA) following the requirements in the respective regulation; vessel-based activity also needs a 'zarpe via la pesca' from the Maritime Authority (AMP).
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · elsalvador.eregulations.org