Chad
Africa · Middle Africa
Chad is a landlocked Sahelian country with no sea coastline; all fishing is inland (freshwater), mainly on Lake Chad and the Chari and Logone rivers. There is no specific legal regime for recreational underwater spearfishing (chasse sous-marine / pêche au harpon). Fishing is governed by Loi nº 014/PR/2008 du 10 juin 2008 portant régime des forêts, de la faune et des ressources halieutiques (a general framework whose full implementing texts for fisheries are still awaited), supported by the environment framework law (Loi 014/PR/98) and the water code (Loi 016/PR/99). National fisheries regulation permits only artisanal gear (beach seines 'tarou', longlines/palangres, traps/nasses, cast nets/épervier, gill nets) subject to minimum mesh sizes, and it explicitly prohibits destructive fishing methods including firearms ('armes à feu'), explosives, electric devices and toxic/polluting products (except for scientific research). Because firearms and similar devices are banned and no provision authorises underwater spearguns/harpoons, recreational spearfishing has no legal basis and is best treated as not permitted / heavily restricted. A fishing permit is required (Category A for nationals, Category B for foreigners).
Last updated June 14, 2026
Governing framework
- §Loi nº 014/PR/2008 du 10 juin 2008 portant régime des forêts, de la faune et des ressources halieutiques
- §Loi nº 014/PR/98 du 17 août 1998 définissant les principes généraux de la protection de l'environnement
- §Loi nº 016/PR/99 du 18 août 1999 portant Code de l'eau
- §Décret nº 380/PR/PM/MERH/2014 fixant les modalités d'application de la Loi nº 014/PR/2008 relatives au régime de la faune
- §Accord relatif au règlement commun sur la faune et la flore du Bassin du Lac Tchad (CBLT/LCBC, 1977)
- 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.
Prohibition of destructive fishing methods (firearms, explosives, electric devices, toxic products)
National fisheries regulation under Loi nº 014/PR/2008 (régime des forêts, de la faune et des ressources halieutiques), as summarised by FAO
l'interdiction des méthodes destructives des pêches telles que l'appareillage électrique, les armes à feu, les explosifs, les produits toxiques nocifs ou polluants, sauf si c'est dans un but de recherche scientifique ;
Minimum net mesh sizes
National fisheries regulation under Loi nº 014/PR/2008, as summarised by FAO
la limitation des mailles de filets des pêches (35mm et au delà pour les Alestes, 55 mm à 85 pour les gros poissons, 90 à 120mm pour les Lates niloticus)
Two-category fishing permit (nationals and foreigners)
National fisheries regulation under Loi nº 014/PR/2008, as summarised by FAO
l'institution d'un permis de pêche en deux catégories (catégorie A d'une valeur de 12.500 Frs réservé au nationaux et catégorie B d'une valeur de 75.000 Frs pour les étrangers.) ;
Governing law cited in official ministry act (forests, wildlife and fisheries regime)
Arrêté nº 388/MEEP/SG/DGTRFFP/DCFAP/2019 portant ouverture et fermeture de la chasse pour la campagne cynégétique 2019-2020 (Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Eau et de la Pêche)
Vu la loi N°014/PR/2008 du 10 juin 2008, portant régime des forêts, de la faune et des ressources halieutiques et ses textes subséquents;
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
No seasonal closures recorded — verify locally before diving.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
Issued by the fisheries administration (Direction des Pêches et de l'Aquaculture) under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Fisheries. Note: in practice much fishing is informal/unlicensed.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · fao.org
- Type
- Permis de pêche (fishing permit) - Category A for nationals, Category B for foreigners
- Cost
- Category A (nationals): 12,500 FCFA; Category B (foreigners): 75,000 FCFA (as reported by FAO; figures may have been updated by later implementing texts)
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- Issued by the fisheries administration (Direction des Pêches et de l'Aquaculture) under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Fisheries. Note: in practice much fishing is informal/unlicensed.
- Authority
- Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Eau et de la Pêche - Direction des Pêches et de l'Aquaculture
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Destructive fishing methods are prohibited: firearms ('armes à feu'), explosives, electric devices ('appareillage électrique') and toxic/polluting products, except for scientific research.
- Minimum net mesh sizes apply: 35 mm and above for Alestes; 55-85 mm for large fish; 90-120 mm for Lates niloticus (Nile perch).
- Permitted artisanal gear described in national practice: beach seine (tarou), longlines (palangres), traps (nasses/goura), cast net (épervier), drifting/set gill nets.
No legal provision authorises underwater spearguns or harpoons (chasse sous-marine / pêche au harpon). Spearguns are treated here as not permitted because firearms and similar devices are explicitly listed among prohibited destructive methods and the recognised fishing gear is limited to artisanal nets, lines and traps. Scuba use for fishing is not addressed in available sources.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
unknown
No recreational daily bag limit or per-species minimum landing size for spearfishing was found in available sources. Indirect size control is exercised through minimum net mesh sizes (35 mm+ for Alestes; 55-85 mm for large fish; 90-120 mm for Lates niloticus). Detailed protected-species lists would fall under the implementing texts of Loi 014/PR/2008, which were reported as still awaited for the fisheries sector.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
AllowedSpecial license required
Requirements
- Foreigners who fish must hold a Category B fishing permit (reported value 75,000 FCFA), substantially more expensive than the Category A permit reserved for nationals.
Restrictions
- Same gear and method prohibitions apply (no firearms, explosives, electric devices or toxic products; mesh-size limits).
- No legal framework exists for recreational underwater spearfishing for either nationals or foreigners.
Rules are framed for commercial/artisanal fishing, not recreational diving. A foreigner wishing to fish legally must obtain the Category B permit from the fisheries administration.
Residents
Permis de pêche Catégorie A (national/resident fishing permit, reported value 12,500 FCFA)
Requirements
- Hold a Category A fishing permit issued by the fisheries administration.
- Comply with prohibited-method and mesh-size rules.
Benefits
- Lower permit cost (12,500 FCFA) than the foreigner Category B permit (75,000 FCFA).
Customary/traditional management systems also regulate access to fisheries locally, especially on Lake Chad. Spearfishing is not provided for as a recreational 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
- Lake Chad (Lac Tchad)shared international water body / regulated fishery
Principal inland fishery, shared international waters managed under the Lake Chad Basin Commission (CBLT/LCBC) common regulation on wildlife and flora (1977). Only artisanal gear is permitted; destructive methods (firearms, explosives, electric devices, toxic products) are prohibited, which excludes spearfishing-type methods. There is no recreational spearfishing regime.
Conditions on the water
Live conditions
Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in Chad, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.
Live marine & weather near Lake Chad (Lac Tchad).
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Eau et de la Pêche (Ministry of Environment, Water and Fisheries)
environment and fisheries ministry
environnement.gouv.tdN'Djamena, ChadDirection des Pêches et de l'Aquaculture (Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture)
fisheries authority
environnement.gouv.tdUnder the Ministry of Environment, Water and Fisheries, N'DjamenaCommission du Bassin du Lac Tchad (CBLT) / Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)
regional/transboundary water and natural-resources commission
cblt.orgN'Djamena, Chad
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
FAO/SFLP - L'évaluation de la contribution de la pêche à l'économie du Tchad (N'Djamena, 2005) - national fishing gear, prohibited methods, mesh sizes, permits and authorities
Officialfao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [02]
FAO Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 - Rapport Tchad - confirms Loi 14/PR/2008 as governing forests/wildlife/fisheries regime and that implementing texts are awaited
Officialopenknowledge.fao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [03]
Arrêté nº 388/MEEP/2019 portant ouverture et fermeture de la chasse, campagne cynégétique 2019-2020 (Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Eau et de la Pêche) - cites Loi 014/PR/2008 and identifies the ministry/authority (FAOLEX cha215673)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [04]
FAOLEX Database - Chad country profile and record for Loi nº 014/PR/2008 portant régime des forêts, de la faune et des ressources halieutiques (LEX-FAOC117920)
Officialfao.orgAccessed Jun 14 - [05]
Loi nº 014/PR/98 définissant les principes généraux de la protection de l'environnement (text hosted by the Chad Ministry of Environment)
Officialenvironnement.gouv.tdAccessed Jun 14
Researcher notes
Chad is landlocked (coastline=false); there is no marine spearfishing. All fishing is freshwater (Lake Chad, Chari and Logone rivers). No statute or regulation addresses recreational underwater spearfishing (chasse sous-marine / pêche au harpon). The governing instrument is Loi nº 014/PR/2008 (forests, wildlife and fisheries resources), described by FAO as a general framework whose fisheries implementing texts are still awaited. The verbatim French excerpts in law_texts are taken from an FAO/SFLP government-commissioned report and an official ministry arrêté (FAOLEX), not from the full body of Loi 014/PR/2008 itself: the FAOLEX/ECOLEX detail pages for that law returned HTTP 403/404 and the integral article text could not be retrieved, so no primary-law article text has been fabricated. spearfishing_allowed is set to 'restricted' (effectively not permitted) because (a) firearms and similar devices are explicitly prohibited fishing methods, (b) recognised legal gear is limited to artisanal nets, lines and traps, and (c) no provision authorises spearguns/harpoons. Permit costs (12,500 / 75,000 FCFA) are as reported by FAO in 2005 and may have changed. data_confidence=medium: multiple authoritative FAO and Chadian government sources corroborate the framework, but the full verbatim primary law text was not retrievable.
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