SpearfishingMap

United States of America · Spearfishing zone

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary — USS Monitor wreck site (North Carolina)

Prohibited zonenational marine sanctuary (diving prohibited)

What this zone is

Overview

How spearfishing is treated at Monitor National Marine Sanctuary — USS Monitor wreck site (North Carolina).

The whole of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary — a one-mile-diameter water column over the wreck of the USS Monitor, about 16 nautical miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras — is closed to "Diving of any type" under 15 CFR 922.61(c), and vessels may not anchor, stop, remain or drift without power there under 922.61(a). This is a diving and vessel restriction, not a fishing regulation: §922.61 does not prohibit hook-and-line fishing as such. But because spearfishing requires a diver in the water, it cannot lawfully be conducted here without a permit from the ONMS Director.

On the coast

Location

Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.

35.0064°N, 75.4089°W

View on the map

Source

This zone is documented in the official source below.

Before you dive

License for United States of America

Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.

License requiredvia State fish and wildlife agencies (e.g. FWC Florida, CDFW California, Hawaii DLNR/DAR, TPWD Texas); NOAA Fisheries for federal waters/HMS permits.

Purchase from the relevant state fish and wildlife agency online portal, license vendors, or in person. Requirements differ by state and by resident/non-resident status.

Get your license

Opens the official portal · fisheries.noaa.gov

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