Nicaragua
Americas · Central America
Recreational spearfishing is legal in Nicaragua as a form of sport fishing (pesca deportiva). Law No. 489 on Fishing and Aquaculture (2004) expressly allows sport fishing to be conducted underwater (de manera subacuatica), but only under a permit issued by the State (MIFIC, administered through the fisheries authority, now INPESCA), and subject to authorized seasons, minimum sizes, gear rules, specific zones and catch limits, under a catch-and-release principle. Billfishes (picudos: marlin, sailfish) are reserved exclusively for sport fishing and may not be sold. Spearfishing is prohibited inside protected areas such as the Cayos Miskitos Marine Biological Reserve. Note a separate, important regime: commercial spiny-lobster (langosta) harvesting by autonomous diving has been targeted for prohibition under the Central American regional regulation OSPESCA OSP-02-09 (2009) for safety/conservation reasons, though enforcement has been repeatedly delayed in Nicaragua. A seasonal closure (veda) on Caribbean spiny lobster runs annually from 1 March to 30 June. Exact recreational spearfishing licence fees and detailed foreigner procedures were not retrievable from official sources and should be confirmed directly with INPESCA.
Última actualización junio 15, 2026
Marco regulador
- §Ley No. 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (2004)
- §Decreto No. 9-2005, Reglamento de la Ley No. 489 (2005)
- §Reglamento OSP-02-09 (OSPESCA) para el Ordenamiento Regional de la Pesqueria de la Langosta del Caribe (Panulirus argus) (2009)
- Licencia obligatoria
- Obligatoria
- Fusil de pesca
- Permitido
- 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.
Definition of sport fishing
Ley No. 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
Pesca Deportiva: La que se realiza con fines de recreacion, turismo, esparcimiento o competencia deportiva.
Promotion and conditions of sport fishing
Ley No. 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
El Estado promovera y fomentara la pesca deportiva con los sectores interesados, para fines turisticos, deportivos, de recreacion o pasatiempo, la cual debera realizarse en las temporadas establecidas por Adpesca y conforme a las tallas minimas, artes de pesca, zonas especificas, limites de captura y demas disposiciones que ameriten este tipo de actividades, bajo el principio de capturar y liberar.
Sport fishing may be conducted underwater; permit required
Ley No. 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
La pesca deportiva podra ser ejercida desde tierra, a bordo de embarcaciones o de manera subacuatica, por personas naturales o juridicas, nacionales o extranjeras por medio de un permiso otorgado por el MIFIC.
Billfishes reserved exclusively for sport fishing
Ley No. 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
Se reserva para el uso exclusivo de la pesca deportiva, todas las especies de picudos, quedando prohibida su pesca comercial.
Prohibition on shark finning
Ley No. 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
Se prohibe la captura de tiburones en aguas continentales y marinas, con el unico proposito de cortarle cualquiera de sus aletas.
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.
- VedaCaribbean spiny lobster (langosta espinosa, Panulirus argus) - Caribbean coastMar 1 – Jun 30
Annual closed season (veda) on Caribbean spiny lobster declared by INPESCA. During this period the capture, transfer, processing and commercialization of lobster are prohibited to protect its reproduction. Relevant to spearfishers because lobster is a common spearfishing/diving target on the Caribbean coast.
- RestringidoAll sport fishing (incl. underwater) - seasons set by the fisheries authority
Sport fishing, including underwater sport fishing, must be carried out only in the temporadas (seasons) established by the fisheries authority (Adpesca/INPESCA), per Arto. 83 of Law 489. Specific dated seasons depend on species and zone resolutions issued by INPESCA.
Permiso para pescar
Licencia
Qué necesitas para poder estar en el agua, cuánto cuesta y cómo conseguirlo.
Apply for a sport fishing permit through MIFIC / the national fisheries authority (INPESCA). Per Arto. 84 of Law 489 the permit is required for sport fishing from shore, from vessels or underwater. Confirm current procedure and fees directly with INPESCA.
Consigue tu licenciaAbre el portal oficial · inpesca.gob.ni
- Tipo
- Permiso de pesca deportiva (sport fishing permit), including underwater/subacuatica modality
- Coste
- unknown
- Validez
- unknown
- Cómo obtenerla
- Apply for a sport fishing permit through MIFIC / the national fisheries authority (INPESCA). Per Arto. 84 of Law 489 the permit is required for sport fishing from shore, from vessels or underwater. Confirm current procedure and fees directly with INPESCA.
- Autoridad
- INPESCA (Instituto Nicaraguense de la Pesca y Acuicultura) / MIFIC
Equipo y técnica
Normas de equipo
Qué equipo está permitido, cómo puede usarse y las condiciones asociadas.
Restricciones
- Recreational underwater (subacuatica) sport fishing is permitted under permit; spearfishing gear (arpon) is the customary method for this modality.
- Commercial spiny-lobster harvesting by autonomous diving (buceo) is subject to prohibition under OSPESCA regional regulation OSP-02-09 (2009) on safety/conservation grounds, with phase-out toward trap (nasa) methods; this targets commercial dive fishing rather than recreational sport spearfishing.
- Travelers report that spearguns can be confiscated by customs at Managua airport on entry; import of spearfishing equipment may be problematic.
Law 489 (Arto. 84) authorizes underwater sport fishing under permit but does not itemize speargun specifications in the provisions retrieved. Detailed gear specifications would be set by INPESCA resolutions and the Reglamento (Decreto 9-2005); these specific details were not retrieved verbatim.
Lo que puedes capturar
Límites de captura y especies protegidas
Cuotas diarias, tallas mínimas y especies que nunca deben capturarse.
Límite diario
Set per species/zone by the fisheries authority; sport fishing operates under a catch-and-release principle (principio de capturar y liberar) per Arto. 83 of Law 489. Specific numeric daily limits not retrieved.
Especies protegidas — no capturar
- ProtegidaBillfishes / picudos (marlin, sailfish) - reserved exclusively for sport fishing; commercial fishing prohibited (Arto. 85)
- ProtegidaSharks - finning prohibited (Arto. 75)
- ProtegidaCaribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - subject to 1 March - 30 June closed season and regional management
Minimum sizes (tallas minimas), specific limits, gear and zones for sport fishing are established by the fisheries authority (Adpesca/INPESCA) under Arto. 83. Exact numeric size limits were not retrievable verbatim from official sources.
Quién puede pescar
Visitantes y residentes
Cómo difieren las normas para los visitantes extranjeros y los residentes locales.
Visitantes extranjeros
PermitidoSe requiere licencia especial
Requisitos
- Obtain a sport fishing permit from MIFIC/INPESCA - Arto. 84 explicitly allows nationals and foreigners (nacionales o extranjeras) to conduct sport fishing including underwater, by permit.
Restricciones
- Spearguns may be confiscated at customs (Managua airport) on entry per traveler reports.
- No spearfishing inside protected areas (e.g. Reserva Biologica Marina Cayos Miskitos).
Foreigners are expressly permitted to undertake sport fishing under Law 489 Arto. 84, subject to the same permit requirement as nationals. Specific fees/procedure for foreigners not retrieved; confirm with INPESCA.
Residentes
Permiso de pesca deportiva (same regime; nationals expressly covered by Arto. 84)
Requisitos
- Sport fishing permit from MIFIC/INPESCA for sport fishing from shore, vessel or underwater.
Law 489 treats nationals and foreigners alike for sport fishing permits (Arto. 84). Artisanal coastal communities (notably Miskito) have separate traditional/artisanal fishing rights, including regulated lobster diving, distinct from recreational spearfishing.
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 prohibidas
- Reserva Biologica Marina Cayos Miskitos y Franja Costera Inmediatamarine biological reserve
Marine biological reserve declared in 1991 covering the Cayos Miskitos in a 40 km radius circle centered on Isla Grande plus a 20 km coastal strip. Conservation of coral reefs, mangroves, sea turtles, manatees and dolphins; only regulated traditional/artisanal use of fishery resources is permitted, so recreational spearfishing is not allowed within the protected reserve.
- Paisaje Marino y Terrestre Protegido Archipielago de Corn Island (Corn Islands Protected Marine Landscape)marine protected area
Marine Protected Area declared 22 December 2021 by Nicaragua's National Assembly covering the Corn Islands archipelago (Big and Little Corn Island) off the South Caribbean coast. The protected area includes a core zone (~430 km2 / 166 sq mi, of which ~418 km2 is marine encompassing coral reefs) described as 'the zone with the most stringent fishing regulations', surrounded by a large buffer zone. Protects coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, hawksbill sea turtles, hammerhead sharks and black corals. Spearfishing on the reefs is incompatible with the no-take/stringent-fishing core zone.
Wildlife refuge established in 2010 (with WCS support) covering the Pearl Cays / Cayos Perlas, a group of ~18 cays about 35 km off Pearl Lagoon on Nicaragua's South Caribbean coast, ~700 km2. Protects critically endangered hawksbill and green turtle nesting sites plus some of the most intact coral reefs on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast (also home to tropical fish, lobsters, nurse sharks, rays). As a declared protected refuge, recreational spearfishing is not permitted (Law 489 excludes spearfishing from protected areas).
Condiciones en el agua
Condiciones en vivo
Instantánea en vivo del mar y el tiempo cerca de un punto de referencia costero en Nicaragua, 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 Reserva Biologica Marina Cayos Miskitos y Franja Costera Inmediata.
A quién preguntar
Autoridades
Los organismos oficiales responsables de la pesca y las licencias.
INPESCA - Instituto Nicaraguense de la Pesca y Acuicultura
fisheries authority
inpesca.gob.niManagua, NicaraguaMIFIC - Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio
competent ministry for Law 489 (issues fishing/sport permits)
MARENA - Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales
environment ministry (protected areas, marine reserves)
OSPESCA - Organizacion del Sector Pesquero y Acuicola del Istmo Centroamericano
regional fisheries authority (SICA)
De dónde proviene
Fuentes
Cada afirmación de esta página se remonta a una de estas referencias.
- [01]
Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (Ley No. 489) - full text
Secundarianicaragua.justia.comConsultado Jun 15 - [02]
LEY DE PESCA Y ACUICULTURA LEY No. 489 (ILO NATLEX official PDF)
Oficialnatlex.ilo.orgConsultado Jun 15 - [03]
Reglamento de Ley 489, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto 9-2005) - ILO NATLEX
Oficialnatlex.ilo.orgConsultado Jun 15 - [04]
INPESCA - Instituto Nicaraguense de la Pesca y Acuicultura (official site)
Oficialinpesca.gob.niConsultado Jun 15 - [05]
Reglamento OSP-02-09 para el Ordenamiento Regional de la Pesqueria de la Langosta del Caribe (OSPESCA/SICA)
Oficialsica.intConsultado Jun 15 - [06]
Anuncian veda de langosta en el Caribe del 1 de marzo al 30 de junio (Canal 10)
Secundariacanal10.com.niConsultado Jun 15 - [07]
Cayos Miskitos y Franja Costera Inmediata - Ramsar Information Sheet
Oficialrsis.ramsar.orgConsultado Jun 15 - [08]
Inmersiones peligrosas en busca de la langosta comun del Caribe (ClientEarth)
Secundariaclientearth.esConsultado Jun 15 - [09]
Spearfishing in Nicaragua (Tripadvisor forum - customs/speargun note)
communitytripadvisor.comConsultado Jun 15
Notas del investigador
Recreational spearfishing is legal but permit-based and regulated under Ley No. 489 (2004): Arto. 84 expressly allows sport fishing 'de manera subacuatica' (underwater) for nationals and foreigners under a MIFIC/INPESCA permit, and Arto. 83 subjects it to seasons, minimum sizes, gear, zones, catch limits and a catch-and-release principle. Billfishes are sport-only (Arto. 85); shark finning is banned (Arto. 75). The high-profile diving-fishing prohibition discussed in Nicaraguan media concerns COMMERCIAL spiny-lobster harvesting by autonomous diving (OSPESCA OSP-02-09, 2009) - a safety/labor/conservation measure repeatedly postponed - which is distinct from recreational spearfishing. Caribbean spiny lobster has a closed season 1 March-30 June. Spearfishing is excluded from protected areas such as the Cayos Miskitos Marine Biological Reserve. Verbatim article texts (Arto. 12, 75, 83, 84, 85) were taken from the Justia full-text of Law 489; the official ILO NATLEX and INPESCA PDFs corroborate the law but could not be fetched verbatim in this session (403/404). Specific recreational permit fees, exact minimum sizes, and detailed foreigner procedures were NOT retrievable from official sources and are marked unknown; confirm directly with INPESCA. Article 87 was found to address scientific fishing rather than a list of sport-permit categories, so no permit-category list is asserted. Confidence: medium - core legality and key provisions are well sourced; operational details (fees, sizes, sport-fishing-specific seasons) are not.
Avísame cuando cambien las normas de Nicaragua
Te enviaremos un correo cuando se actualicen las temporadas o la normativa de Nicaragua en nuestro conjunto de datos.
