SpearfishingMap

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Americas · Caribbean

Spearfishing is heavily restricted. It is strictly forbidden to visitors/foreigners, and fishing with spearguns, scuba or hookah gear is treated as illegal under the Fisheries Act 1986 (Cap. 52) and Fisheries Regulations 1987 (S.R.O. No. 1 of 1987). The Act empowers the Minister to regulate scuba use and to regulate or prohibit spear guns. Spearing lobster is prohibited nationally. All fishing (including spearfishing) is banned inside marine protected areas such as the Tobago Cays Marine Park, the South Coast Marine Conservation Area and the Bequia/Devil's Table reserves. Residents may fish for their own consumption outside protected areas; any non-resident fishing requires a permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer.

Restricted
Confianza de los datosConfianza media

Última actualización agosto 1, 2025

Marco regulador

  • §Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Act No. 8 of 1986, amended by Act 32 of 1986 and Act 25 of 1989)
  • §Fisheries Regulations, S.R.O. No. 1 of 1987
  • §Tobago Cays Marine Park Act, 1999
  • §Mustique Conservation Act, 1989
Licencia obligatoria
Obligatoria
Fusil de pesca
Prohibido
Escafandra
Prohibido
Extranjeros
No permitido

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.

01Section 45(2)(g) and (h)Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · national

Regulation-making powers: scuba gear and spear guns

Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Act No. 8 of 1986)

ENOriginal

(g) regulating the use of scuba gear; (h) regulating or prohibiting the use of spear guns or other similar devices;

02Section 22Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · national

Marine reserves

Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Act No. 8 of 1986)

ENOriginal

22. (1) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare any area of the fishery waters and, as appropriate, any adjacent or surrounding land, to be a marine reserve where he considers that special measures are necessary- (a) to afford special protection to the flora and fauna of such areas and to protect and preserve the natural breeding grounds and habitats of aquatic life, with particular regard to flora and fauna in danger of extinction; (b) to allow for the natural regeneration of aquatic life in areas where such life has been depleted; (c) to promote scientific study and research in respect of such areas; or (d) to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of such areas. (2) Any person who, in any marine reserve, without permission granted under subsection (3); (a) fishes or attempts to fish; (b) takes or destroys any flora and fauna other than fish; (c) dredges or extracts sand or gravel, discharges or deposits waste or any other polluting matter, or in any way disturbs, alters or destroys the natural environment; or (d) constructs or erects any buildings or other structures on or over any land or waters within such a reserve; is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one thousand dollars.

03Section 24Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · national

Prohibited fishing methods (explosives, poison, noxious substances)

Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Act No. 8 of 1986)

ENOriginal

24. (1) Any person who- (a) permits to be used, uses or attempts to use any explosive, poison or other noxious substance for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish, or in any way rendering fish more easily caught; or (b) carries or has in his possession or control any explosive, poison or other noxious substance for any of the purposes referred to in paragraph (a); is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars. (2) Any explosive, poison or other noxious substance found on board any fishing vessel shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be intended for the purpose referred to in subsection (1)(a).

04Section 45(2)(b), (f), (q)Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · national

Regulation-making powers: management/conservation, closed seasons, prohibited methods, turtles/lobsters/conches

Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Act No. 8 of 1986)

ENOriginal

(b) prescribing fisheries management and conservation measures including prescribed mesh sizes, gear standards, minimum species sizes, closed seasons, closed areas, prohibited methods of fishing or fishing gear and schemes for limiting entry into all or any specified fisheries; ... (f) organising and regulating sport fishing in the fishery waters; ... (q) prescribing measures for the protection of turtles, lobsters and conches;

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.

Ene
Feb
Mar
Abr
May
Jun
Jul
Ago
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dic
VedaRestringidoAbierto
  • VedaCaribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)May 1 – Ago 31

    Closed season for lobster. Reported as 1 May - 31 August by some secondary sources and 1 May - 30 September by others; taking or buying lobster out of season is prohibited, as is taking berried (egg-bearing) or moulting individuals. Exact dates should be confirmed with the Fisheries Division.

  • VedaSea turtlesMar 1 – Jul 31

    Turtles are protected during the nesting season 1 March - 31 July; harming nests or collecting eggs is never permitted.

Permiso para pescar

Licencia

Qué necesitas para poder estar en el agua, cuánto cuesta y cómo conseguirlo.

Licencia obligatoriaa través de Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation

Visitors must obtain a fishing permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer in Kingstown before fishing. Spearfishing is forbidden to visitors regardless of permit.

Consigue tu licencia

Abre el portal oficial · agriculture.gov.vc

Licencia obligatoria
Tipo
Fishing permit / licence (visitors require a permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer; spearfishing not permitted for visitors)
Coste
unknown
Validez
unknown
Cómo obtenerla
Visitors must obtain a fishing permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer in Kingstown before fishing. Spearfishing is forbidden to visitors regardless of permit.
Autoridad
Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation

Equipo y técnica

Normas de equipo

Qué equipo está permitido, cómo puede usarse y las condiciones asociadas.

Fusil de pescaProhibido
EscafandraProhibido

Restricciones

  • Fishing with spearguns, trammel nets, scuba or hookah equipment is reported as illegal
  • Fisheries Act s.45(2)(h) empowers the Minister to regulate or prohibit the use of spear guns; s.45(2)(g) to regulate scuba gear
  • No person may spear lobster
  • Spearfishing is strictly forbidden to visitors/foreigners
  • Spearfishing prohibited inside all marine protected areas
  • Use of explosives, poison or other noxious substances to catch fish is prohibited (Fisheries Act s.24)

The blanket spearfishing/scuba prohibitions for visitors and inside protected areas are well documented in secondary sources and government notices; the precise verbatim wording of the speargun/scuba prohibition sits in the Fisheries Regulations 1987 (S.R.O. No. 1 of 1987), the full text of which was not retrievable online. The Fisheries Act enabling powers are quoted verbatim.

Lo que puedes capturar

Límites de captura y especies protegidas

Cuotas diarias, tallas mínimas y especies que nunca deben capturarse.

Límite diario

unknown

Tallas mínimas

  • Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - minimum carapace lengthmín. 8.9 cm
  • Queen conch (Aliger gigas) - minimum shell lengthmín. 17.8 cm

Especies protegidas — no capturar

  • ProtegidaSea turtles (protected during nesting season)
  • ProtegidaParrotfish (removal illegal in marine protected areas)
  • ProtegidaCorals
  • ProtegidaSponges
  • ProtegidaSea stars
  • ProtegidaAquarium fish
  • ProtegidaBerried (egg-bearing) and moulting lobster
  • ProtegidaImmature/non-flared-lip queen conch

Spiny lobster: minimum carapace length about 3.5 inches (~8.9 cm) and minimum weight ~1.5 lb; taking berried or moulting individuals prohibited; no speared/hooked/impaled lobster may be possessed or sold. Queen conch: minimum shell length 7 inches (~17.8 cm) and meat weight 8 ounces; only flared-lip (mature) conch may be taken. Size limits sourced from secondary summaries of the Fisheries Regulations 1987; verify exact figures with the Fisheries Division.

Quién puede pescar

Visitantes y residentes

Cómo difieren las normas para los visitantes extranjeros y los residentes locales.

Visitantes extranjeros

No permitido

Se requiere licencia especial

Requisitos

  • Any fishing by visitors requires a permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer in Kingstown

Restricciones

  • Spearfishing is strictly forbidden to visitors/foreigners
  • Speargun, scuba and hookah fishing illegal
  • No fishing of any kind inside marine protected areas

Foreigners/visitors may not spearfish under any circumstances. General (non-spear) fishing by visitors is subject to obtaining a permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer.

Residentes

Fisherman registration / licence under the Fisheries Act and Regulations

Requisitos

  • Registration/licensing of fishermen, fishing vessels and gear under the Fisheries Act (s.45(2)(e))

Ventajas

  • Residents may fish for their own consumption in open waters outside marine protected areas

Even for residents, spearguns/scuba/hookah fishing and spearing of lobster are prohibited, and spearfishing is banned inside marine protected areas.

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

  • Fishing for one's own consumption is allowed for residents outside the designated protected areas. Spearfishing remains forbidden to visitors and spearing lobster is prohibited everywhere; speargun/scuba/hookah fishing is treated as illegal nationwide.

    No spearguns, scuba or hookah gear; no spearing of lobster; visitors require a permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer and may not spearfish.

Áreas prohibidas

  • All fishing is prohibited, including spearfishing, trolling and angling. A 1,400-acre sand-bottom lagoon enclosing five cays (Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Petit Tabac, Jamesby), Mayreau and the Horseshoe Reef. Established under the Tobago Cays Marine Park Act, 1999.

  • Marine managed area covering the communities of Blue Lagoon/Canash/Ratho Mill, Calliaqua, Indian Bay, Young Island and Villa on the south coast of St Vincent. Spearfishing is strictly prohibited and the removal of parrotfish and coral is illegal; signage installed by the Fisheries Division. Designated as a Marine Conservation Area in 1987 and declared a Marine Managed Area in 2015.

  • Marine park off Bequia; off-limits to anglers. Part of the network of marine protected areas where fishing is prohibited.

  • Conservation areas on and around Mustique managed under the Mustique Conservation Act, 1989. Listed among the country's marine protected areas where fishing is restricted/prohibited.

Condiciones en el agua

Condiciones en vivo

Instantánea en vivo del mar y el tiempo cerca de un punto de referencia costero en Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 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 Tobago Cays Marine Park.

Condiciones

A quién preguntar

Autoridades

Los organismos oficiales responsables de la pesca y las licencias.

  • Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation

    fisheries authority

    agriculture.gov.vcChief Fisheries Officer, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Tobago Cays Marine Park

    marine protected area authority

    tobagocays.orgTobago Cays Marine Park Board

De dónde proviene

Fuentes

Cada afirmación de esta página se remonta a una de estas referencias.

  1. [01]

    Laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Revised Edition 1990) - FAOLEX

    Oficial
    faolex.fao.orgConsultado Jun 15
  2. [02]

    Fishers reminded of spearfishing ban in SVG waters - St Vincent Times

    Secundaria
    stvincenttimes.comConsultado Jun 15
  3. [03]

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - NOAA Fisheries 2025 report

    Oficial
    fisheries.noaa.govConsultado Jun 15
  4. [04]

    Legal & Regulatory Framework - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation (Govt of SVG)

    Oficial
    agriculture.gov.vcConsultado Jun 15
  5. [05]

    Caribbean Fishing - Laws and Regulations (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines section)

    Secundaria
    hashtagboatlife.comConsultado Jun 15
  6. [06]

    St. Vincent & the Grenadines scuba/marine regulations - DiveGuide

    community
    diveguide.comConsultado Jun 15
  7. [07]

    Tobago Cays - Wikipedia (boundaries and coordinates)

    Secundaria
    en.wikipedia.orgConsultado Jun 15
  8. [08]

    Reconstruction of marine fisheries catches for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Sea Around Us, 2015)

    Secundaria
    seaaroundus.orgConsultado Jun 15
  9. [09]

    SCMCA - communities of Blue Lagoon/Canash/Ratho Mill, Calliaqua, Indian Bay, Young Island and Villa (ICRI/SocMon)

    Secundaria
    icriforum.orgConsultado Jun 15

Notas del investigador

Spearfishing in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is best classified as RESTRICTED bordering on prohibited: it is banned outright for visitors/foreigners, banned inside all marine protected areas, and speargun/scuba/hookah fishing is treated as illegal; spearing lobster is prohibited nationally. The governing primary law is the Fisheries Act, Cap. 52 (Act No. 8 of 1986), whose verbatim enabling and conservation provisions (ss. 22, 24, 45) are captured here from the official FAOLEX text. The operational spearfishing/scuba prohibition and the lobster/conch size and closed-season rules are set out in the subsidiary Fisheries Regulations 1987 (S.R.O. No. 1 of 1987); the full verbatim text of those Regulations could not be retrieved online, so those specifics rely on government notices and reputable secondary summaries and are flagged accordingly. Lobster closed-season dates are reported inconsistently across sources (1 May - 31 Aug vs 1 May - 30 Sep) and minimum-size figures are converted from imperial units; both should be confirmed with the Fisheries Division before relying on them. Confidence is MEDIUM: the primary Act text is verbatim and authoritative, but the precise spearfishing prohibition wording and some quantitative limits come from secondary sources.

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