British Virgin Islands
Americas · Caribbean
Spearfishing is prohibited in the British Virgin Islands. Under section 50(1) of the Virgin Islands Fisheries Act, 1997 (No. 4 of 1997), no person may use a speargun, SCUBA diving equipment, explosive, poison or other noxious substance for fishing in the fishery waters. It is illegal to even use or carry on board a fishing vessel any spear gun or SCUBA equipment for fishing or harvesting marine products. According to the official Government of the Virgin Islands notice, where such prohibited gear is found on a vessel a presumption arises (under s.50(2)) that the persons intended to fish in the fishery waters unless the contrary is proved; the same notice states the offence carries a maximum fine of USD 15,000 on summary conviction (attributed to s.63(a)). The exact statutory wording of s.50(2) and s.63 could not be verified against the consolidated Act (the 1997 Act is not yet published on the official Virgin Islands Laws Online portal and is not on FAOLEX), so those provisions are described from the official notice rather than quoted verbatim. The prohibition applies to residents, foreigners and tourists with no recreational exception, and spearguns/Hawaiian slings may be confiscated by Customs on arrival. The Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022 contemplates allowing spearfishing, but as of February 2025 it had not been brought into force by notice in the Gazette and the supporting regulations remained in drafting, so spearfishing remained illegal under the 1997 Act and the 2003 Fisheries Regulations.
Última actualización febrero 1, 2025
Marco regulador
- §Fisheries Act, 1997 (No. 4 of 1997)
- §Fisheries Regulations, 2003
- §Fisheries (Fishing Priority Areas and Protected Areas) Order, 2011 (Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 69)
- §Fisheries (Protected Species) Order, 2014 (Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 28)
- §Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022 (assented but not yet in force as of 2025)
- Licencia obligatoria
- Obligatoria
- Fusil de pesca
- Prohibido
- Escafandra
- Prohibido
- Extranjeros
- No permitido
- Máx. de arpones
- 0
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.
Prohibited fishing methods - spearguns and SCUBA (Fisheries Act 1997 s.50(1), as quoted in the official Government of the Virgin Islands notice)
Virgin Islands Fisheries Act, 1997 (No. 4 of 1997)
Subject to section 35 (2), no person shall use any speargun, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving equipment, explosive, poison or other noxious substance for fishing in the fishery waters.
Prohibited fishing methods (recreational fishing guide)
Conservation and Fisheries Department - Guide to Recreational (Pleasure and Sport) Fishing
In the BVI it is illegal to use or carry onboard a fishing vessel any spear gun, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving equipment, explosive, poison or other noxious substances for fishing or harvesting of marine products in the fishery waters. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. There is a maximum fine of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15 000.00) for this violation.
Fishing prohibited in protected areas
Fisheries (Fishing Priority Areas and Protected Areas) Order, 2011 (Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 69), made under section 13(1)(a) and (b) of the Fisheries Act, 1997 (No. 4 of 1997)
No person shall engage in the fishing of any fish in the protected area otherwise than under the authority, and in accordance with the terms and conditions, of a licence issued under the Fisheries Act, 1997.
Prohibition of fishing for sharks
Fisheries (Protected Species) Order, 2014 (Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 28), made under section 14(1) of the Fisheries Act 1997
No person shall (a) remove from the fishery waters or intentionally engage in the fishing for sharks or any of their parts; (b) intentionally remove the fins, tail or mutilate any shark; (c) sell, purchase or have in his or her possession any shark, shark parts or shark products; (d) export or import any shark, shark parts or shark products; (e) feed, attempt to feed, provide or use food to attract any shark in the fishery waters.
Prohibition of fishing for rays
Fisheries (Protected Species) Order, 2014 (Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 28), made under section 14(1) of the Fisheries Act 1997
No person shall (a) remove from the fishery waters or intentionally engage in the fishing for rays or any of their parts; (b) intentionally mutilate any ray; (c) sell, purchase or have in his or her possession any ray, ray parts or ray products; (d) export or import any ray, ray parts or ray products; (e) feed, attempt to feed, provide or use food to attract any ray in the fishery waters.
Offence and penalty for taking protected species (sharks/rays)
Fisheries (Protected Species) Order, 2014 (Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 28)
Any person who contravenes sections 2 or 3 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.
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.
- VedaMargateEne 1 – Mar 31
Closed season for Margate (Jan 1 - Mar 31).
- VedaRed HindEne 1 – Mar 31
Closed season for Red Hind (Jan 1 - Mar 31).
- VedaNassau GrouperMar 1 – May 31
Closed season for Nassau Grouper (Mar 1 - May 31).
- VedaLobsterJul 31 – Oct 31
Closed season for Lobster, printed verbatim as 'Jul 31 - Oct 31' in the official Conservation and Fisheries Department recreational fishing guide. The single-day-late July 31 start is reproduced exactly as published (it likely reflects a closure running effectively from end of July through October).
- VedaConchAgo 15 – Oct 31
Closed season for Conch (Aug 15 - Oct 31).
- VedaWhelkAgo 15 – Oct 31
Closed season for Whelk (Aug 15 - Oct 31).
- VedaHawksbill Turtle and Green TurtleAbr 1 – Nov 30
Closed season for Hawksbill Turtle and Green Turtle (Apr 1 - Nov 30).
Permiso para pescar
Licencia
Qué necesitas para poder estar en el agua, cuánto cuesta y cómo conseguirlo.
Application forms requested and returned by fax (1-284-468-2781) or email (cfd@gov.vg), accompanied by a copy of a valid photo ID (passport or driver's licence). Processed by the Conservation and Fisheries Department, Road Town, Tortola. Tel: 1-284-468-2700.
Consigue tu licenciaAbre el portal oficial · bvi.gov.vg
- Tipo
- Certificate of Registration and Fishery Licence (recreational pleasure fishing); a temporary pleasure fishing licence valid for one month is available. Note: licences cover rod/hand-line angling only - spearfishing is prohibited and no spearfishing licence exists.
- Coste
- Temporary pleasure fishing licence approximately USD 45.00 (valid one month)
- Validez
- Temporary pleasure fishing licence valid for one month
- Cómo obtenerla
- Application forms requested and returned by fax (1-284-468-2781) or email (cfd@gov.vg), accompanied by a copy of a valid photo ID (passport or driver's licence). Processed by the Conservation and Fisheries Department, Road Town, Tortola. Tel: 1-284-468-2700.
- Autoridad
- Conservation and Fisheries Department (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), Government of the British Virgin Islands
Equipo y técnica
Normas de equipo
Qué equipo está permitido, cómo puede usarse y las condiciones asociadas.
Restricciones
- Spearguns are prohibited for fishing/harvesting marine products in the fishery waters (Fisheries Act 1997 s.50(1)).
- SCUBA diving equipment may not be used for fishing or harvesting marine products.
- Explosives, poison and other noxious substances are prohibited for fishing.
- It is illegal to even carry a spear gun or SCUBA gear onboard a fishing vessel for fishing; possession on a vessel raises a presumption of intent to fish unlawfully (s.50(2)).
- Spearguns and Hawaiian slings may be confiscated by the Customs Department upon arrival in the Territory.
Recreational (pleasure) fishing is limited to rods and hand-lines; sport fishing is catch-and-release for big game such as marlin and sailfish, with release of marlin strongly encouraged.
Lo que puedes capturar
Límites de captura y especies protegidas
Cuotas diarias, tallas mínimas y especies que nunca deben capturarse.
Límite diario
Pleasure fishing for personal consumption: maximum retention of 30 lbs of fish per boat.
Especies protegidas — no capturar
- ProtegidaSharks (all species - Fisheries (Protected Species) Order 2014)
- ProtegidaRays (all species - Fisheries (Protected Species) Order 2014)
- ProtegidaLeatherback Turtle (moratorium / no take)
- ProtegidaLoggerhead Turtle (moratorium / no take)
- ProtegidaJewfish / Goliath Grouper (moratorium / no take)
- ProtegidaHawksbill Turtle (closed season Apr 1 - Nov 30)
- ProtegidaGreen Turtle (closed season Apr 1 - Nov 30)
- ProtegidaNassau Grouper (closed season Mar 1 - May 31)
Moratoriums (NO TAKE) apply to Leatherback Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles and Jewfish (Goliath Grouper). Sharks and rays are fully protected under the Fisheries (Protected Species) Order, 2014 (limited subsistence/scientific exceptions for licensed local fishermen/permit holders). Closed seasons apply to Margate, Red Hind, Nassau Grouper, Lobster, Conch, Whelk and marine turtles. Since spearfishing is prohibited, these limits are relevant to permitted rod/hand-line fishing.
Quién puede pescar
Visitantes y residentes
Cómo difieren las normas para los visitantes extranjeros y los residentes locales.
Visitantes extranjeros
No permitidoRequisitos
- Foreign vessels engaged in recreational fishing require a Certificate of Registration and Fishery Licence to fish in BVI waters.
Restricciones
- Spearfishing is prohibited for everyone, including tourists and foreigners - there is no recreational, tourist or commercial exception.
- Bringing a spear gun or Hawaiian sling into the Territory may result in confiscation by the Customs Department on arrival.
Foreigners may obtain a recreational fishing licence for rod/hand-line angling, but spearfishing is not permitted under any licence.
Residentes
Certificate of Registration and Fishery Licence (recreational); separate commercial fisherman registration for licensed local fishermen
Requisitos
- Local vessels engaged in recreational fishing require a Certificate of Registration and Fishery Licence.
Ventajas
- Licensed local fishermen have limited subsistence exception for fishing certain non-endangered sharks under the Fisheries (Protected Species) Order 2014.
Spearfishing is prohibited for residents as well; no spearfishing exception currently exists in law.
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
- Horse Shoe Reef, Anegadamarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including mooring of boats, diving, building construction and fishing.
- Beef Island Channelmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Hans Creek, Beef Islandmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- The Sound, Ginger Islandmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Big Reef, Peter Islandmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Green Caymarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- North Bay, Guanamarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Frenchman's Caymarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Taylor Bay, Virgin Gordamarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- South Sound, Virgin Gordamarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- The Sound, Salt Islandmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Money Bay, Norman Islandmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Santa Monica Rockmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
- Dead Chestmarine protected area
Fisheries Protected Area (Marine Protected Area). ALL human activity (save snorkeling) is prohibited, including fishing.
Condiciones en el agua
Condiciones en vivo
Instantánea en vivo del mar y el tiempo cerca de un punto de referencia costero en British Virgin Islands, 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 Horse Shoe Reef, Anegada.
A quién preguntar
Autoridades
Los organismos oficiales responsables de la pesca y las licencias.
Conservation and Fisheries Department (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)
fisheries authority
bvi.gov.vgP.O. Box 3323, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Tel: (284) 468-2700; Fax: (284) 468-2781; Email: cfd@gov.vgGovernment of the Virgin Islands - Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour
environment ministry
bvi.gov.vgRoad Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
De dónde proviene
Fuentes
Cada afirmación de esta página se remonta a una de estas referencias.
- [01]
Speargun Fishing Is Strictly Prohibited - Government of the Virgin Islands (official notice, 25 May 2020)
Oficialbvi.gov.vgConsultado Feb 1 - [02]
Guide to Recreational (Pleasure and Sport) Fishing - Conservation and Fisheries Department
Oficialbvi.gov.vgConsultado Feb 1 - [03]
Fisheries (Protected Species) Order, 2014 (SI 2014 No. 28) - FAOLEX full text
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado Feb 1 - [04]
Fisheries (Fishing Priority Areas and Protected Areas) Order, 2011 (SI 2011 No. 69) - FAOLEX full text (lists the 14 protected areas and the section 4 fishing prohibition)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado Jun 16 - [05]
Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022 - Government of the Virgin Islands
Oficialbvi.gov.vgConsultado Feb 1 - [06]
Spearfishing illegal for now, premier says - The BVI Beacon
Secundariabvibeacon.comConsultado Feb 1 - [07]
Farming, fishing law is still not enacted - The BVI Beacon
Secundariabvibeacon.comConsultado Feb 1 - [08]
Is Spearfishing Allowed in the BVI? - Lancaster Scuba
communitylancasterscuba.comConsultado Feb 1
Notas del investigador
Spearfishing is illegal in the British Virgin Islands. The core prohibition is Fisheries Act 1997 (No. 4 of 1997) s.50(1) (no speargun/SCUBA/explosive/poison for fishing), reinforced by the Fisheries Regulations 2003 and the official Conservation and Fisheries Department recreational fishing guide. The official Government notice attributes the maximum fine of USD 15,000 to s.63(a) and a presumption-of-intent rule to s.50(2); however the consolidated Fisheries Act 1997 could not be retrieved (it is not yet published on the official Virgin Islands Laws Online portal, laws.gov.vg, and is not on FAOLEX), so the verbatim wording of s.50(2) and s.63 could not be confirmed. To avoid presenting paraphrase as statute, the previous s.50(2) and s.63(a) law_texts entries (which were summaries, not quotes) were removed; their substance is retained in the legal_status summary with explicit attribution to the official notice. The Act number (No. 4 of 1997) is corroborated by the Fisheries (Fishing Priority Areas and Protected Areas) Order, 2011 (SI 2011 No. 69), whose verbatim section 4 is now cited from FAOLEX as the in-force legal basis for the protected-area fishing ban; FAOLEX separately mislabels the Act as 'No. 18 of 1997'. The Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022, which would permit spearfishing (without SCUBA), received the Governor's assent but had NOT been brought into force by Gazette notice as of February 2025, with supporting regulations still in drafting; until commencement, spearfishing remains prohibited. Permitted recreational fishing is rod/hand-line pleasure fishing (30 lbs per boat personal-consumption cap) and catch-and-release sport fishing; both require a licence. 14 Fisheries Protected Areas (MPAs) ban all activity except snorkeling (confirmed against both the recreational guide and the 2011 Order). Only 2 MPAs (Horse Shoe Reef/Anegada area, Dead Chest) carry coordinates, and those are approximate centroids derived from gazetteer data, not from the legal instrument; remaining MPAs lack precise published coordinates and are left without coordinates to avoid fabrication. Confidence is medium: the legal status (prohibited) is well-sourced from official government material, but two penalty/presumption provisions rest on an official press notice's paraphrase rather than the verifiable consolidated statute.
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