Australia
Oceania · Australia and New Zealand
Recreational spearfishing is legal across Australia but is regulated separately by each state and territory, plus the Commonwealth for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Common rules nationwide: spearfishing must generally be done on breath-hold (snorkel/free-diving) only - taking fish with any underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA, hookah) is prohibited in every state and territory (with narrow exceptions, e.g. NSW permits SCUBA only for scallops, sea urchin and turban shell). Spearfishing in inland/fresh waters is broadly banned. Spearguns may not be used in many specified estuaries, near jetties/swimmers, or in marine protected areas (marine national parks, sanctuary/no-take 'green' zones). Protected species (e.g. blue groper in NSW, western blue groper in WA, blue cod/rock lobster/abalone in various states) cannot be speared. Standard recreational bag and size limits apply. Licence requirements vary: NSW and VIC require a recreational fishing licence/fee; QLD, SA, NT and TAS do not require a general recreational fishing licence for line/spear fishing in marine waters (some species/gear-specific licences may apply, e.g. TAS for rock lobster/abalone). WA requires a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence for boat-based fishing and species/region licences.
Última actualización junio 14, 2026
Marco regulador
- §Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW) and Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW)
- §Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld) and Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
- §Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Cth), Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 (Cth) and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019 (Cth)
- §Fisheries Act 1995 (Vic) and Fisheries Regulations 2019 (Vic)
- §Fisheries Management Act 2007 (SA) and Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2017 (SA)
- §Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (WA) and Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 (WA)
- §Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 (Tas) and Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 (Tas)
- §Fisheries Act 1988 (NT) and Fisheries Regulations 1992 (NT)
- Licencia obligatoria
- Obligatoria
- Fusil de pesca
- Permitido
- Escafandra
- Prohibido
- Extranjeros
- Bienvenidos
La ley, literal
Textos legales
Las disposiciones legales y reglamentarias exactas que regulan la pesca submarina aquí, citadas tal como están publicadas, con un enlace a cada fuente oficial.
Scuba diving - prohibition on taking fish while using underwater breathing apparatus (NSW)
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW)
51 Scuba diving (1) A person must not, while using any apparatus capable of supplying air to facilitate breathing underwater, take fish by any method. Maximum penalty-100 penalty units. (2) This clause does not apply to a person who takes- (a) for the purpose of sale-abalone, sea urchin or turban shell in compliance with the requirements of the Act and this Regulation and, in the case of abalone, the Fisheries Management (Abalone Share Management Plan) Regulation 2000, or (b) any fish while using a snorkel, or (c) scallops (family Pectinidae), or (d) sea urchin.
Spear guns and bowfishing equipment (NSW)
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW)
52 Spear guns and bowfishing equipment-the Act, s 23 (1) A person must not- (a) use a spear gun in inland waters for the purpose of taking fish, or (b) use a spear gun for the purpose of taking fish in any of the waters described in Schedule 4, or (c) use a spear gun aided by lights in any waters for the purpose of taking fish. Maximum penalty-50 penalty units. (2) A person must not take any fish in any waters by means of a spear gun that is fitted with an explosive device. Maximum penalty-100 penalty units. (3) A person must not take fish in any waters using a bow and arrow, except as provided by subclause (4). ... (5) In this clause- ... spear gun includes a spear or similar device.
Taking of groper - protected species, rod and line only (NSW)
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW)
49 Taking of groper (1) A person must not take groper in any waters by any method other than by the use of a rod and line or a handline. Maximum penalty-100 penalty units. (2) In this clause, groper means any fish of the species Achoerodus viridis, commonly known as eastern blue groper, blue groper, brown groper or red groper.
Schedule 4 - waters where spear gun use is prohibited (NSW)
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW)
This Schedule lists the waters from which taking fish by use of a spear gun is prohibited under clause 52 (1) (b). Clause 52 (1) (a) also prohibits the taking of fish from any inland waters by use of a spear gun.
Firearms - spear gun excluded from firearm definition (NSW)
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW)
53 Firearms (1) A person must not take any fish in any waters by means of a firearm. Maximum penalty-50 penalty units. ... (3) In this clause, firearm does not include a spear gun.
Definition of 'limited spearfishing' - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth)
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 (Cth)
Limited spearfishing means fishing with a spear or spear gun, not using a power head, a firearm, or light or underwater breathing apparatus other than a snorkel. Limited spearfishing is allowed in the General Use (Light Blue) and the Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zones, and is permitted in Conservation Park (Yellow) Zones unless there is a Public Appreciation Special Management Area in place over that Zone. (No fishing or spearfishing is permitted in Marine National Park / green 'no-take' Zones.)
Prohibition on spearing bream and boarfish (Tasmania)
Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 (Tas)
A person must not use a spear to take bream, or boarfish, in State waters.
Prohibited spear use in named rivers (Tasmania)
Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 (Tas)
A person must not use a spear to take scalefish in any of the following waters: River Mersey waters; River Leven waters; Inglis River waters.
Definition of 'spear' (Tasmania)
Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 (Tas)
'spear' is defined to include a spear gun and any other apparatus with a pointed end.
Prohibition on fishing for abalone using compressed air breathing apparatus (Western Australia)
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 (WA)
A person must not fish for abalone in Abalone Zone 1 by diving while using compressed air breathing apparatus.
Cuándo puedes bucear
Temporadas y restricciones horarias
Periodos de veda, de apertura y restringidos a lo largo del año. Confirma siempre localmente las vedas específicas de cada especie.
- VedaEastern blue groper (Achoerodus viridis) - NSW (year-round spearfishing prohibition)Ene 1 – Dic 31
Blue/brown/red groper may only be taken by rod and line or handline in NSW; taking by spear gun is prohibited at all times (Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 cl 49). Note: NSW announced a total fishing ban on eastern blue groper effective March 2024 following a review.
- RestringidoGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park - coral reef fin fish closures10 – 11
Queensland imposes annual coral reef fin fish spawning closures (typically around the new moon in October and November) during which the take of coral reef fin fish, including by spearfishing, is prohibited in tidal waters of the GBR region. Exact dates are set each year by Fisheries Queensland.
Permiso para pescar
Licencia
Qué necesitas para poder estar en el agua, cuánto cuesta y cómo conseguirlo.
Online via the relevant state fisheries authority website, or from authorised agents/tackle shops.
Consigue tu licenciaAbre el portal oficial · dpird.nsw.gov.au
- Tipo
- Varies by jurisdiction. NSW: Recreational Fishing Fee (licence) required for all line and spear fishing in fresh and salt waters. VIC: Recreational Fishing Licence required (with age/concession exemptions). WA: Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence required for boat-based fishing plus species/region licences. QLD, SA, NT, TAS: no general recreational fishing licence required for line/spear fishing in marine waters (species/gear-specific licences may apply, e.g. TAS for rock lobster, abalone).
- Coste
- Varies (e.g. NSW recreational fishing fee approx AUD 37 for 1 year / AUD 14 for 3 days; VIC RFL approx AUD 36 for 1 year). Check the relevant state authority for current fees.
- Validez
- Typically 3 days, 1 month, 1 year or 3 years depending on jurisdiction and option chosen.
- Cómo obtenerla
- Online via the relevant state fisheries authority website, or from authorised agents/tackle shops.
- Autoridad
- State/territory fisheries authority (e.g. NSW DPIRD Fisheries, VFA Victoria, DPIRD WA, Fisheries Queensland, PIRSA, NRE Tasmania, NT Fisheries).
Equipo y técnica
Normas de equipo
Qué equipo está permitido, cómo puede usarse y las condiciones asociadas.
Restricciones
- Spearfishing must generally be done on breath-hold (snorkel/free-diving) only; taking fish while using any underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA, hookah) is prohibited in all states and territories (NSW cl 51 allows SCUBA only for scallops, sea urchin, turban shell and abalone-for-sale, not for finfish)
- Powerheads, explosive devices/bang sticks and firearms attached to spears are prohibited or heavily restricted for recreational spearfishing
- Use of a light/torch with a spear or speargun is prohibited (e.g. NSW cl 52(1)(c))
- Speargun must not be used in inland/fresh waters (NSW, WA, SA, VIC, etc.)
- Spearguns must not be loaded out of the water; keep spear tips covered on land and stay clear distances from swimmers/divers (NSW recommends 50 m; NT requires loaded speargun only in open sea and 150 m from non-party persons; VIC bans spear gear within 30 m of jetties/piers and river mouths)
- Spear/speargun may not be used to take protected species (e.g. blue groper in NSW; western blue groper, dhufish restrictions and rock cods/groper in WA; bream and boarfish in TAS) or to take rock lobster, abalone or scallops in several states (e.g. VIC prohibits spearing rock lobster)
Definitions of 'spear gun' include a spear or similar device (NSW cl 52(5); TAS rule 3(1)). In the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 'limited spearfishing' is explicitly defined as fishing with a spear/speargun using a snorkel only, with no powerhead, firearm, light or underwater breathing apparatus.
Lo que puedes capturar
Límites de captura y especies protegidas
Cuotas diarias, tallas mínimas y especies que nunca deben capturarse.
Límite diario
Standard recreational bag and possession limits apply to spearfishers exactly as to other recreational fishers; limits are species-specific and set by each state/territory. Spearfishers must comply with the same bag, possession and size limits as line fishers.
Especies protegidas — no capturar
- ProtegidaEastern blue groper / blue groper / brown groper / red groper (Achoerodus viridis) - NSW (spear take prohibited; rod and line only)
- ProtegidaWestern blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii) - WA
- ProtegidaBream and boarfish - Tasmania (spear take prohibited in State waters)
- ProtegidaRock lobster - prohibited to take with spear/speargun in several states (e.g. VIC)
- ProtegidaAbalone and scallops - generally may not be taken with a spear (taken by hand/diving under separate rules)
- ProtegidaGreat white shark, grey nurse shark, marine mammals, marine turtles, syngnathids and other species protected under state and Commonwealth law
Protected species lists and minimum/maximum size limits vary by jurisdiction; always check the current rules of the relevant state/territory authority and any Commonwealth (EPBC Act) protected species before spearfishing.
Quién puede pescar
Visitantes y residentes
Cómo difieren las normas para los visitantes extranjeros y los residentes locales.
Visitantes extranjeros
PermitidoRequisitos
- Foreign visitors may spearfish recreationally on the same terms as residents
- Must hold the same recreational fishing licence/fee as residents where one is required (NSW, VIC, WA boat licence) - these are available to non-residents online
- Must comply with all bag/size limits, gear restrictions, protected species rules and marine park zoning
Restricciones
- No catch may be sold (recreational only)
- Subject to the same closed areas, SCUBA prohibition and protected-species rules as residents
There is no separate foreigner-specific spearfishing permit; visitors simply obtain the same recreational licence/fee where applicable. Quarantine and biosecurity rules apply when bringing dive/fishing gear into Australia.
Residentes
Recreational fishing licence / fee where required (NSW Recreational Fishing Fee, VIC Recreational Fishing Licence, WA Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence). No general licence in QLD, SA, NT, TAS for marine line/spear fishing.
Requisitos
- Hold and carry the relevant recreational fishing licence/fee where one applies
- Comply with state/territory bag, size and possession limits, gear restrictions and marine protected area zoning
Ventajas
- Concession-rate licences available for pensioners/concession card holders in some states (e.g. NSW, VIC)
- Some age-based exemptions (e.g. VIC exempts under-18 and over-70; NSW exempts under-18)
Licence exemptions and concessions vary by jurisdiction; check the relevant state authority.
Dónde en la costa
Zonas permitidas y prohibidas
Áreas concretas abiertas o cerradas a la pesca submarina. Consulta el panorama completo en el mapa interactivo.
Áreas permitidas
Limited spearfishing (spear or speargun, snorkel only, no powerhead/firearm/light/underwater breathing apparatus) is allowed.
Snorkel only; no powerhead, firearm, light or underwater breathing apparatus; recreational bag/size limits and protected species rules apply.
Limited spearfishing allowed (snorkel only).
Snorkel only; no powerhead, firearm, light or underwater breathing apparatus.
Limited spearfishing permitted unless a Public Appreciation Special Management Area is in place over the zone.
Snorkel only; prohibited where a Public Appreciation Special Management Area applies (e.g. near resorts, dive sites, pontoons).
Áreas prohibidas
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Marine National Park (Green / no-take) Zonesmarine national park / no-take green zone
No-take zones representing the highest level of protection; no fishing, collecting or extractive activities of any kind permitted, including all spearfishing, without a permit.
- All inland / fresh waters of New South Walesfreshwater / inland waters closure
Use of a spear gun to take fish in inland waters is prohibited (Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 cl 52(1)(a)).
- Port Noarlunga Sanctuary Zone (formerly Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve), South Australiamarine sanctuary / aquatic reserve
Spearfishing prohibited.
- Second Valley Bay, South Australiacoastal closure
Spearfishing prohibited in the waters of Second Valley Bay.
- Adelaide metropolitan coastline (Outer Harbor to Witton Bluff), South Australiametropolitan coastal closure
No spearfishing within 600 m of the high water mark along defined sections of the Adelaide metropolitan coast, and within 200 m of the Hindmarsh and Inman River mouths.
- Victorian Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuariesmarine national park / marine sanctuary
Carrying or using a speargun is prohibited in Victoria's marine national parks and marine sanctuaries; spearing equipment also banned within 30 m of jetties/piers and river/creek mouths, and in listed inland waters.
- Ningaloo Marine Park sanctuary zones, Western Australiamarine park / sanctuary zone
Spearfishing using compressed air (SCUBA or hookah) is prohibited; certain species (e.g. wrasse, rock cods/groper) may not be speared; sanctuary (no-take) zones prohibit all fishing.
- River Murray and all South Australian freshwater rivers/streams and West Lakes systemfreshwater / inland waters closure
Carrying and/or using a hand fish spear or spear gun is not permitted in the River Murray and all other SA freshwater rivers and streams (including land up to 100 m from them) and all waters of the West Lakes system.
Condiciones en el agua
Condiciones en vivo
Instantánea en vivo del mar y el tiempo cerca de un punto de referencia costero en Australia, de Open-Meteo. Las condiciones varían a lo largo de la costa; tómalo como orientativo.
Estado del mar y el tiempo en vivo cerca de Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Marine National Park (Green / no-take) Zones.
Sobre el terreno
Tiendas y chárteres locales
Tiendas de equipo, chárteres, cursos y clubes en Australia. Las fichas de ejemplo están claramente marcadas mientras verificamos operadores reales.
De la comunidad
Spots de buceo de la comunidad
Spots compartidos por buceadores en Australia. Enviados por la comunidad y no sustituyen la comprobación de las normas y condiciones locales.
Sydney — Cape Banks
Kelp and rocky reef at the entrance to Botany Bay.
33.990°S, 151.250°E
A quién preguntar
Autoridades
Los organismos oficiales responsables de la pesca y las licencias.
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) - Fisheries
fisheries authority
dpird.nsw.gov.au1300 550 474Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority)
marine park authority (Commonwealth)
www2.gbrmpa.gov.auFisheries Queensland 13 25 23Fisheries Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)
fisheries authority
qld.gov.au13 25 23Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA)
fisheries authority
vfa.vic.gov.au136 186Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) - Fisheries and Aquaculture
fisheries authority
pir.sa.gov.auFISHWATCH 1800 065 522WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) - Fisheries
fisheries authority
dpird.wa.gov.au1300 374 731Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) - Wild Fisheries Management
fisheries authority
fishing.tas.gov.au1300 720 647Northern Territory Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)
fisheries authority
nt.gov.au08 8999 2144Australian Underwater Federation (AUF)
dive / spearfishing federation
De dónde proviene
Fuentes
Cada afirmación de esta página se remonta a una de estas referencias.
- [01]
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW) - full text (FAOLEX mirror, clauses 49, 51, 52, 53, Schedule 4)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado Jun 14 - [02]
Spearfishing in NSW - NSW DPIRD Fisheries
Oficialdpird.nsw.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [03]
Recreational Spearfishing Guide (January 2024) - NSW DPI Fisheries Compliance Unit
Oficialdpi.nsw.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [04]
Recreational fishing activities (zoning) - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Oficialwww2.gbrmpa.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [05]
How Marine Park Zoning works - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Oficialwww2.gbrmpa.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [06]
Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 (Tas) - full text (rules 3, 74, 93)
Oficiallegislation.tas.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [07]
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 (WA) - full text
Oficiallegislation.wa.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [08]
Hand fish spear, spear gun and powerheads - PIRSA (South Australia)
Oficialpir.sa.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [09]
Spearfishing - Adelaide metropolitan coastline closures - PIRSA
Oficialpir.sa.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [10]
Rules for spearfishing - NT.GOV.AU (Northern Territory)
Oficialnt.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [11]
Spearfishing in Ningaloo Marine Park - WA DPIRD
Oficialdpird.wa.gov.auConsultado Jun 14 - [12]
Australian Underwater Federation - Spearfishing Code of Practice (Feb 2022)
Secundariaauf.com.auConsultado Jun 14 - [13]
Spearfishing in Melbourne - The Scuba Doctor (Victoria rules overview)
Secundariascubadoctor.com.auConsultado Jun 14 - [14]
Can You Spearfish with Scuba Gear in Australia? - Lancaster Scuba (state-by-state SCUBA overview)
communitylancasterscuba.comConsultado Jun 14
Notas del investigador
Australia is a federation: recreational spearfishing is regulated independently by each of the six states and two territories, with the Commonwealth Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority adding a layer of zoning rules off Queensland. VERBATIM legal text was captured from official legislation portals for NSW (Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 - clauses 49 'Taking of groper', 51 'Scuba diving', 52 'Spear guns and bowfishing equipment', 53 'Firearms', via the FAOLEX full-text mirror after the NSW gov page blocked direct fetch), Tasmania (Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 - rules 3, 74, 93 via legislation.tas.gov.au) and Western Australia (Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 reg 38E via legislation.wa.gov.au). The GBRMP 'limited spearfishing' definition is quoted from the GBRMPA recreational-fishing page reflecting the Zoning Plan 2003. Many .gov.au pages (NSW DPIRD, GBRMPA www2, QLD, NT, VFA, austlii) returned HTTP 403 to the fetch tool, so for VIC, QLD, SA and NT the detailed rules were corroborated through official-source search snippets plus reputable secondary sources rather than directly-fetched primary text; the core nationwide facts (breath-hold/snorkel only, no SCUBA for finfish, inland-water bans, marine-park no-take zones, protected groper/bream, standard bag/size limits) are consistently confirmed across multiple official sources. One low-quality secondary search result incorrectly claimed WA uniquely permits SCUBA spearfishing; this was rejected as more authoritative sources (and WA's own marine park material) confirm SCUBA spearfishing is prohibited. Per-jurisdiction primary legislation for VIC, SA, QLD and NT spear provisions was not directly fetched and could be added to strengthen those entries; data_confidence set to high overall given strong primary text for NSW/TAS/WA/GBRMP and consistent official corroboration elsewhere. Coordinates are approximate centroids of named areas where derivable. Always verify against the current rules of the relevant state/territory authority before spearfishing, as bag/size limits and closure dates change.
Avísame cuando cambien las normas de Australia
Te enviaremos un correo cuando se actualicen las temporadas o la normativa de Australia en nuestro conjunto de datos.