SpearfishingMap

United States of America · Spearfishing zone

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands)

Prohibited zonemarine national monument / national marine sanctuary

What this zone is

Overview

How spearfishing is treated at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands).

The largest fully protected marine conservation area in the United States, encompassing ~582,578 sq mi of ocean surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from Nihoa to Kure Atoll, extending 200 nautical miles offshore. All commercial and non-commercial fishing (including spearfishing) and possession of fishing gear (unless stowed and unavailable) are prohibited throughout the monument and sanctuary without a permit. All take of living or nonliving sanctuary resources is prohibited. Sustenance fishing (catch consumed within the monument) is only allowed as a condition of an existing activity permit. The monument center coordinate is representative of the NWHI chain. Midway Atoll, inside this monument, is ISO 3166-1 UM-71 (United States Minor Outlying Islands) and is covered by the UMI record, where the narrower Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Midway Atoll Special Management Area carry additional restrictions — 50 CFR 404.7(i) prohibits swimming, snorkelling and SCUBA diving within the Special Management Area, which 15 CFR 922.241 defines as the waters surrounding Midway Atoll out to 12 nautical miles.

On the coast

Location

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

25.5000°N, 170.5000°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

← All spearfishing rules for United States of America

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